July 2, 2015
England

MP’s joy over plans to give residents the final decision on wind turbines

Bedford Today | 02 July 2015 | www.bedfordtoday.co.uk

Alistair Burt MP has welcomed a proposed change in the law which will give communities the final say over planning decisions for new onshore wind farms.

Wind turbines will only get the go-ahead if the local community has made it clear they support onshore wind projects in their area.

They will be free to decide where turbines should go and any proposals must address the concerns of local people and have their backing.

In addition, the law will be changed to end bill-payer subsidies for new onshore wind farms from April 2016. This will ensure that we meet our renewable energy commitments in a way that protects taxpayers and keeps bills low for working people.

Mr Burt said: “For too long our communities were powerless to stop wind farm developments that they objected to from going ahead, and my constituency has seen its fair share of these developments.

“Thanks to the Conservatives this will now change. Delivering on our manifesto commitment, local communities like ours here in Bedfordshire 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.

“I am also writing to the minister to ask whether the same powers can be applied to applications for solar farm developments.

“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.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/07/02/mps-joy-over-plans-to-give-residents-the-final-decision-on-wind-turbines/