Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay, has welcomed Cornwall Council’s change in strategy regarding wind turbines, which will put a stop to a number of Council wind turbines planned for Mid-Cornwall.
On 24 July Cornwall Council stated,
‘Cornwall Council has decided not to submit planning applications for wind turbines to be built on three sites on Council owned land following the Government’s recent change of policy on wind turbines.
The Council had originally proposed to build wind turbines on six sites across Cornwall. However, following consultation with Members, partners and local residents, this was reduced to four sites. The Government’s change in policy means that only one of those sites is now supportable in planning terms.
This site is at Ventonteague (near Carland Cross) for which a planning application has already been submitted. In respect of the other 3 sites (Pennans at Grampound, Barwick at Tregony and Levalsa at St Ewe) the Council will not currently pursue applications at this stage in view of the prevailing policy’.
Commenting, Steve said,
“I have always been against turbines that are ruining our countryside and have consistently supported local communities who have fought against them.”
“The figures in Cornwall Council’s strategy just did not add up, particularly in the light of the Conservative Government’s new policy regarding turbines that has cut the subsidies that make them so lucrative for developers at the cost of bill payers.”
“I have pointed out that essentially the figures were unsustainable and yet another waste of hard-working Cornish taxpayer’s money.”
“I am glad that Cornwall Council has listened to common sense and I am delighted that they have scrapped their plans.”
“I will continue to work with colleagues both in Cornwall and in Westminster to make the renewable energy industry fit for purpose.”