Burnham-On-Sea’s MP has labelled plans to build a wind farm on the outskirts of the town as “ugly, ineffective and inappropriate” during a visit to the area.
David Heathcoat-Amory, pictured giving an interview to the BBC before the meeting, met members of the ‘KNOll to Wind Farm’ pressure group in Brent Knoll on Friday February 24th to discuss the controversial plans for five huge turbines on land at nearby Edithmead.
Talking to Burnham-On-Sea.com, he said: “I think the farm would probably be ugly, ineffective and be inappropriate for this area.”
“There’s a risk that we could deter tourists from coming here.”
But he added: “I’m not here to discuss the location of the wind farm, which is a matter for the planners. I don’t interfere with planning policy.”
“I’m here to highlight an ineffective, mistaken government policy on renewable energy – it’s nonsense to think that wind farms can combat global climate change.”
Andy Manning, spokesman for ‘KNOll to Wind Farm’, said he was pleased by the visit and added: “Support from our MP can only be good news.”
“We were able to show David the proposals and discuss them with him in some depth. We also had a chance to meet several people from Burnham’s pro-wind farm group.”
Rod Winfield of the pro-wind farm group, FORCE (Families for Clean Energy), told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “There were four of us against 40 anti-wind farm people, but we felt the MP listened to our views as much as theirs and did not favour one over the other.”
“One or two people verbally tackled us over our views, but there was nothing unpleasant. They are sticking to their guns and so are we,” he said.
Ecotricity, the Gloucestershire-based company behind the proposals, is expected to submit its planning application for the wind farm very shortly.
RELATED LINKS:
MP to visit wind farm protestors at Brent Knoll
New pro-wind farm group backs Edithmead wind farm plans
‘Property prices will be hit by proposed wind farm’ claims action group
Wind farm group pushes green agenda
Ecotricity holds wind farm open day
New action group formed to fight wind farm
Council leader slams plans for wind farm
Huge new wind farm proposed for Edithmead
Ecotricity Web site
