Don’t allow cash for wind turbines, says CPRE
Date published: 19 September 2012
Photo: Jan Harwood
Scout Moor Wind Farm turbine
Commenting on the announcement by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) of a review of the costs of onshore wind and community engagement and benefits, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has cautioned against taking a simplistic view which would undermine the planning system.
Tom Leveridge, Senior Energy Campaigner for CPRE, says: "We're pleased the Government is looking at this issue and we hope it is a recognition that you can't simply ride roughshod over legitimate community concerns about the landscape impact of onshore wind turbines.
“A genuine attempt to promote community engagement in the design, location and layout of wind farms should lead to a more sensitive approach to reducing the impact wind turbines can have on our beautiful landscapes.
“We must make sure that this does not promote simplistic notions of ‘sharing benefits’ that amount to little more then paying off communities to secure planning permission. This would fundamentally undermine a core principle of the planning system – that planning permission should not be bought or sold - and put the countryside at greater risk from poorly sited wind developments.”
Do you have a story for us?
Let us know by emailing news@rochdaleonline.co.uk
All contact will be treated in confidence.
Most Viewed News Stories
- 1Trio jailed for 20 years after shotgun fired at Rochdale house in broad daylight
- 2First-ever Workers’ Party councillors elected to Rochdale Borough Council; Labour retains overall...
- 3First full Stalking Protection Order against a child in UK secured for family in Heywood
- 4Cast your vote in the local and mayoral elections today
- 5New energy facility with the ability to power 20,000 homes approved in Bamford
To contact the Rochdale Online news desk, email news@rochdaleonline.co.uk or visit our news submission page.
To get the latest news on your desktop or mobile, follow Rochdale Online on Twitter and Facebook.