8:17am Friday 10th July 2009
By Joe Willis
A GOVERNMENT minister has been asked to decide the fate of a controversial wind farm proposal as concerns are raised in Parliament over the number of schemes planned for the Tees Valley.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government will consider whether to examine plans for three 125-metre high turbines between Seamer and Hilton, near Stockton.
The planning application was approved last week by Stockton Borough Council’s planning committee on the chairman’s casting vote.
However, Dari Taylor, MP for Stockton South, has written to the Government Office for the North-East asking for the application to be called in.
The MP said that the proposed turbines were too close to overhead power lines and the road.
She also expressed concern about procedures at the planning committee meeting, and said her request was supported by a “large number of local residents and councillors”.
The plans have now been put on hold while the Secretary of State considers whether to examine them.
The wind farm proposal was drawn up by Broadview Energy. Last night, managing director Jeff Corrigan said: “It’s not uncommon for Government offices to look at these applications to check that all the policies and decisions have been taken correctly and we’re confident that will be the case here.”
In a separate development, Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson yesterday raised concerns in Parliament about wind farms with Climate Change Minister Joan Ruddock.
He said: “My constituency covers the Tees Valley plain, which, according to an independent report, can cater for between only 20 and 25 wind turbines, but 62 are planned. Does my honourable friend agree that, while we all know the importance of making people aware of climate change, it is equally important to take people with us, rather than swamping them with wind farms?”
The minister replied: “Clearly, we must have developments that are sensitive to the landscape – that is a matter for the planning process. However, it is our responsibility as a Government to help people understand the real need for change in our production and use of energy.”
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