Recent Government announcements indicate that local people will have more say on whether wind farms are to be located in their area.
In a Parliamentary debate Phil Wilson tried to raise the situation at Aycliffe, but as can be seen with the dilaogue below the Minister sidestepped the issue.
Phil Wilson Question:
E.ON wants to build a wind farm consisting of 25 wind turbines in the middle of my constituency, generating 64 MW of electricity, which is therefore over the 50 MW threshold.
The final decision will be made by the Secretary of State. Does this announcement today mean that if the local planning authority is opposed and the local community is opposed, the Secretary of State will say no to it?
Mark Prisk Answer:
It is cute of the Hon. Gentleman to try to tempt me into that area. He knows that these are quasi-legal decisions, and I am not going to comment on any individual application.
What we have done today is make sure that the balance in discussions is correct at the local level and at the appeal level, so that there is an appropriate level of decision making. I am not going to be drawn into individual applications, as he will understand.
