Conservatives pledge to end subsidies and protect landscapes
Elizabeth Truss MP, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has met with, prominent anti-wind turbine campaigner and Conservative prospective candidate for Berwick, Anne-Marie Trevelyan to discuss concerns about the spread of on-shore wind turbines in Northumberland.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan, who has been campaigning on the issue for ten years and been working with residents to oppose inappropriate applications described on-shore wind turbines, as a source of energy, as; “intermittent, inefficient, inadequate and blighting the skylines in many parts of rural Northumberland”. Anne-Marie Trevelyan said; “it was a pleasure to meet with Liz Truss and get reassurance that the Government is determined to support the fight against the spread of on-shore wind turbines in rural Northumberland.”
Anne-Marie Trevelyan also highlighted her concern about the cost of subsidising the building of new turbines; “this is an entirely unacceptable situation affecting the poorest the most as they struggle to pay their fuel bills. These policies were set in place by Labour, with Ed Milliband, the Energy Secretary at the time, and run under the coalition by Ed Davey, a Lib Dem. I just do not understand how Labour and Lib Dem MPs claiming to support the poor should think that this subsidy culture to the investor at the direct expense of the poorest is acceptable. That is why I am delighted that David Cameron has pledged to end the public subsidy for on-shore wind turbines, a move opposed by the Lib Dems”.
Liz Truss also backed Anne-Marie Trevelyan's call to give local people an even greater say in the planning process to protect the local landscape. Anne-Marie Trevelyan said; “We have already made great strides in fighting off large scale on-shore turbines thanks to the policy set in place in 2013 by Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities. He has given local planning committees leave to take into account the views of local people”.
Liz Truss said: “I am extremely grateful to Anne-Marie for highlighting to me the impact of wind turbines on the local area and for her assiduous campaigning on this issue. It’s vital that local people have a greater say in planning applications for onshore wind and that the beautiful landscapes of counties like Northumberland are safeguarded for generations to come. That’s why a future Conservative Government will end any additional subsidy, put onshore wind back in the locally-led planning system and give even greater protection to locally-valued landscapes.”