MP states views on Hilston Wind Farm application

THE SMALL HAMLET of Hilston in Holderness is the proposed location of a Wind Farm to be constructed by European wind-energy developers EnergieKontor (UK) Ltd. The East Riding Council refused the planning application, but EnergieKontor have appealed to the Government. The same company is also behind an application to build a Wind Farm at Withernwick, which was successful after a similar appeal to the Government (see Withernwick Village Website).

Graham Stuart MP has published a letter (reproduced on Google Docs) to the Hilston Planning Inquiry and set out his views. The MP expresses his concern for the people who live in Holderness who appear to have no control over the environment in which they live. Whilst he states that he is not anti-wind farm and he believes that local people are more than willing to do their bit for the national interest, he derides the fact that companies resort to legal action to win their case.

"...it is so wrong that companies are barely consulting locally but spending fortunes on lawyers to drive through decisions on appeal. The key principle is that local people, not some government inspector, should decide what happens in their area." He continued "...I am against the apparent race by some developers to cash in on the large subsidies available for wind power generation to the detriment of those who are forced to live with the consequences. This rush needs to be kept in check and a balance struck."

The Planning Inquiry is continuing.