AN MP has launched a parliamentary petition as one of a number of measures to try to prevent what could could be England’s biggest wind farm from being built in the region.

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson is campaigning against E.ON’s plans, which could see England’s biggest wind farm built in his constituency.

Mr Wilson is also calling for a fighting fund to be established, as well as volunteers and experts from within the community to come forward to defeat the energy firm’s proposals.

E.ON will launch a formal consultation on August 31, with three schemes to be considered – for either 29, 30 or 45 turbines – on a site east of Newton Aycliffe.

Mr Wilson yesterday told a meeting at Mordon, on the edge of the 7.5 square mile site E.ON hopes to develop, to expect a long fight with the German firm.

He said: “This scheme is worth £575m to E.ON, half of which comes from the consumers in subsidies. We can expect them to throw everything they have got at it so we really need to stand together.”

E.ON say 45 turbines could produce up to 115MW of energy, enough to power 53,000 homes, and has pledged a £460,000-a-year community benefits fund.

However, the firm said there were three proposals for the site and it had already extended the consultation period to take on as many people’s views as possible.

Mr Wilson said County Durham already generated 22 per cent of its power needs from renewable energy and that other parts of the country should play a part.

He said: “We all want to benefit from renewable energy, but I also think we should all share the burden as well.

It is not just Northumberland and Durham that should be taking up the strain on this.”

Meanwhile executives and engineers from E.ON have offered to answer any questions from readers of The Northern Echo concerning the Isles wind farm.

Questions can be submitted by phone on 01388-602232, by email via chris.fay@nne.co.

uk and by post to The Northern Echo, 127 Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7EN.

For details on the petition and how to get involved with Mr Wilson’s campaign, call 01325-321603.