Cleethorpes MP calls for more wind turbines on brownfield sites - fewer in beautiful countryside

                                          

Wind turbines and sunflowers in a field near Cleethorpes 

CLEETHORPES MP Martin Vickers has called for  more onshore wind turbines to be built on brownfield sites rather than in the countryside.

He told a Commons debate: "The problem with onshore wind is that too many of the applications are for areas of outstanding natural beauty or beautiful rural areas, rather than, say, docks or industrial estates." 

                                        

Martin Vickers - favours industrial areas for wind turbines

However, Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath took a different perspective.

She responded: "A long time ago, when I was a councillor, a big wind farm was built in my ward, and  I remember well the local objections to it.

"People said, 'Oh, the beautiful, natural environment of our hills!' 

"The natural environment of the hills had been destroyed decades or centuries ago. There were no trees any more. 

"Local people come forward and talk about our beautiful natural environment, but the natural environment had become like that, and wind farms are now becoming part of the landscape that we are creating for people. 

"Once wind farms are there, people stop objecting to the. Surveys are very clear on that."

She continued: "Of course, it is clear that people are always worried about change. 

"We are building something new and taking away something that was there, but if we are doing so for something that is so important, why can we not make the case that a wind turbine might be a much nicer thing to look at than, for example, a coal-fired power station, which we also need to put somewhere if we need energy? 

                                           

Wera Hobhouse: We cannot wait any longer

"What we do as humans creates some disruption to our local environment, and it has done so forever, so what do we want? 

"We need to get to net zero, build this infrastructure and build wind turbines, including in places where we can see them. 

"As responsible politicians, it is up to us to make the case for that. We have no time to waste: it is a race to net zero, and it is difficult. 

"Yes, some people do not like to look at wind farms, but But this is something of which we can persuade people, and I believe in persuading local people. 

"Yes, that sometimes takes time, but it is for us to do, because we have that persuading power and are in the position of influencing people. 

"That is where we should be, rather than always being on the side of the nay-sayers. 

"That is my honest position. I know that it is not easy; I have been there, too, in my time.

"We cannot wait any longer. 

"The UK needs to move further faster towards renewables. 

"Improving the planning system to quicken the building process is an important place to start."