Graham Stuart, the MP for Beverley and Holderness, is to give evidence at a Planning Inquiry being held after a proposed wind farm at Roos was turned down by councillors.
The company, Renewable Energy Systems (RES), which wants to place the nine giant turbines on the site in Rectory Road, Roos, has appealed and an inquiry is now being held at County Hall in Beverley.
Graham said: “I have been contacted by many constituents opposed to this wind farm application.
“While I fully understand and appreciate the need for renewable energy sources, I cannot agree with the heavy handed way these plans are being forced on the people who live in Holderness.”
Graham will argue at the inquiry on Friday morning that the Roos plan is a ‘wind farm too far’ as – if approved – it will have a major visual impact on the area.
He said: “The East Riding has already met its 2020 target for renewable energy and should not have more wind farms forced on it if they are inappropriately sited and will blight landscapes.
“The people of this area are more than reasonable and are happy to do their bit for the national interest. That’s why it is so wrong that companies are barely consulting locally but spending fortunes on lawyers to drive through decisions on appeal.”
And he added: “The key principle is that local people, not some government inspector, should decide what happens in their area. The Conservatives will revolutionise planning so that far more of the power rests locally rather than with ministers and their inspectors. Additionally I have pushed for Conservative policy on wind farms to include an accumulation test so that areas, like Holderness, can’t be overwhelmed by successive windfarms in the way that happens now under Labour.
“East Riding Council has fought and lost all five planning appeals so far. I will be protesting to the Inspector at the impact of this latest appeal but, whatever the outcome on this occasion, it’s clear we need a change of government if local views are to be respected. Current rules show no respect for the wishes of the people who have to live with wind farms for decades thereafter and that must change.”
Graham is due to appear before the Planning Inspector, Wendy Burden, at 9.30am on Friday March 12.
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