Lansley opposes local wind farm

Shadow Health Minister Andrew Lansley is among campaigners who have opposed a wind farm on the disused RAF Graveley site in Cambridgeshire.

The Cambridge News reported yesterday that the plans were thrown out by Huntingdonshire District Council. Last week, Andrew Lansley expressed his concerns about the plans. In a statement he said:

“Not only is it highly visually intrusive, but there are serious concerns about the disruptions that this would cause to the residents of Graveley. The turbine is less than 600 metres away from residential properties and, particularly at night, the low frequency noise generated would cause significant suffering for residents.”

But Claire Ryall of RWE, the company behind the wind farm, told Left Foot Forward:

“Modern wind turbines and well-designed wind farms are quiet in operation and, standing at the base of a wind turbine, a normal conversation can be held without difficulty. Most visitors to operational wind farms are surprised at how quiet the turbines are …

“The proposed Cotton Wind Farm is considered to be located sufficiently far away from nearby properties to ensure the amenity of local residents is protected. Noise was not raised as a reason for refusal by the Planning Officer in her report.”

This latest development is likely to reopen concerns about the Conservative party’s commitment to tackling climate change. Mike Childs, head of climate change for Friends of the Earth, told the FT last month:

“We were very pleased when David Cameron took on the green mantle, but we would have hoped by now that this would have permeated into the rest of the front bench. But you don’t often hear Ken Clarke talking about the importance of the low-carbon economy.”

A week later, Clarke was forced to retract comments that mainland Britain was “not suitable” for onshore windfarms while Next Left highlighted that: “None of the top ten Conservative bloggers believes the theory that man-made global warming is an established fact.”

The Telegraph report this afternoon that: “Wind turbines could be put up across the countryside without planning permission under Government proposals to cut red tape for environmentally-friendly projects.”

1. Ben Folley says:

   November 18, 2009 at 10:27 am

   Tories oppose wind farms http://is.gd/4XOD7 (via @leftfootfwd) whilst govt plans on lots more! http://tinyurl.com/y9axc2a
2. Jack Storry says:

   November 18, 2009 at 11:07 am

   There is nothing Green about the Conservative party.

   It seems Mr. Lansley believes climate change is not worth stopping if it inconveniences his constituents.
3. Anon E Mouse says:

   November 18, 2009 at 2:52 pm

   Jack Storry – Perhaps he just doesn’t like wind farms? Hardly a story really and not worth the CO2 used to mail it.

   He is also in opposition for the next six months but when the government approves the third runway at Heathrow I really don’t think one MP’s wishes not to have a windfarm near him is the real story. Do you Jack?
4. Tory MEP hosts “climate sceptics’” conference | Left Foot Forward says:

   November 18, 2009 at 3:58 pm

   [...] conference comes on the back of news this morning that shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley, has campaigned against a wind farm close to his Cambridgeshire South constituency on the spurious grounds of noise [...]
5. avn says:

   November 18, 2009 at 4:29 pm

   Lansley opposes local wind farm | Left Foot Forward http://bit.ly/2XHMc2
6. Claude Vinet says:

   November 18, 2009 at 5:50 pm

   Lansley opposes local wind farm | Left Foot Forward http://bit.ly/12jBgP
7. Low carbon homes by 2016 as green gloves come off | Left Foot Forward says:

   November 24, 2009 at 5:05 pm

   [...] week this blog reported that Andrew Lansley had joined colleague Ken Clarke in opposing an onshore wind farm while Next Left has shown that [...]
8. 100 reasons why "vote blue, go green" won't work | Left Foot Forward says:

   December 18, 2009 at 4:48 pm

   [...] Cabinet member Andrew Lansley campaigned against a wind farm next to his [...]
9. Colour drains from "Vote Blue, Go Green" | Left Foot Forward says:

   April 15, 2010 at 5:54 pm

   [...] health secretary Andrew Lansley has previously campaigned against the building of a wind farm close to his constituency. Left Foot Forward today publicises a new [...]
10. Charlotte Hughes says:

    May 1, 2010 at 2:05 am

    Wind power is a good source of electricity but it also takes up lots of space just like solar power plants.–`
11. Energy minister: No dramatic increase in onshore wind power | Left Foot Forward says:

    July 14, 2010 at 10:31 am

    [...] we previously reported, the health secretary is known as an opponent of wind farms, and a Comres poll showed that only 7 [...]