EDDISBURY MP Stephen O’Brien is backing villagers in their fight to save one of Cheshire’s most valued landscapes from the threat of wind power development.
The Shadow Minister for Health is supporting the action group Stop Bickerton Wind Turbines in its opposition to a planning application to erect a wind monitoring mast at the foot of Bickerton Hill.
The action group fears that if permission goes ahead for the mast, it will be followed by a proposal for the construction of an industrial wind power station which will spoil one of the county’s most popular tourist destinations.
The planning application comes before Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council’s Development Control Committee on Thursday, February 7.
Stephen O’Brien said: “I believe that this is not a suitable location for a development of this type. The impact on the landscape, environment and residential amenity would be unacceptable.
“I will be studying the proposals in greater detail and discussing their potential impact with all parties. Unfortunately, as many other local planning authorities have found, an initial successful application for wind turbines often leads to a flood of similar applications.
“The amount of electricity produced by wind turbines is not sufficiently significant to meet the UK’s renewable energy needs. Their subsidy through the taxpayer under this Labour Government’s policy fails to make logical or economic sense.”
Chairman of the Bickerton action group, Mike Voisey, said: “We are delighted that Stephen O’Brien has joined the hundreds of supporters who are opposing this inappropriate planning application. We have been contacted by walkers, horse riders and cyclists from several counties who are appalled that such a very special area is under threat.”
The action group is urging supporters to continue writing or e-mailing objections to Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council quoting PO7/1432 and to register at www.stopbickertonwindturbines.co.uk
