MPs welcome move in windfarms fight
Shropshire Star | June 22, 2015 | www.shropshirestar.com
The decision to give communities the final say over controversial plans for windfarms has been hailed as a major step forward by two MPs.
Philip Dunne, MP for Ludlow, and Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard, said the decision to give residents the final say on controversial applications was a big step forward.
The government has also announced it will be ending subsidies to onshore windfarm developments.
Mr Dunne said: “For too long Shropshire communities have felt powerless to stop windfarm developments that they objected to from going ahead.
“We have seen the turmoil in neighbouring Montgomeryshire from long running and deeply unpopular windfarm applications.
“Thanks to the Conservatives this will now change. Delivering on our manifesto commitment, local communities like ours here in South Shropshire will now have the final say over planning applications for onshore wind turbines which will ensure only those schemes that have the support of local people can go ahead – and we are stopping bill payer subsidies for new onshore windfarms so that energy bills are kept down.”
Mr Pritchard added: “This is part of our plan to give power back to communities and local people so that they can decide and determine the future of their areas – not be forced to accept decisions imposed on them.”
Glyn Davies, Montgomeryshire MP, said he believes the move means five windfarms in Mid Wales which are subject to a public inquiry can no longer go ahead.
He said: “As far as I am concerned the Mid Wales project is dead. David Cameron told me as much during Prime Minister’s Questions.
“He made it clear that there will be no further funding for onshore wind and I believe that will apply to Mid Wales.
“I am meeting with ministers next week to discuss the matter further and hopefully by then I will have something concrete on the situation.”
The onshore wind industry and environmental campaigners have criticised the Conservatives for attacking the cheapest form of clean energy, and one which enjoys the support of 65 per cent of people, while saying they want to cut carbon in the most cost-effective way.
Under the plans, the “renewables obligation” scheme, through which subsidies are paid to renewable schemes, will be closed to onshore windfarms from April 1, 2016.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/06/22/mps-welcome-move-in-windfarms-fight/