Ranil Jayawardena has today condemned Labour plans for thousands more publicly subsidised wind turbines.
The plans emerged after one of Britain’s biggest wind farm companies revealed that in private discussions senior Labour and Liberal Democrat figures have given ‘very strong support for onshore wind in one-to-one conversations’.
Conservatives are the only party that would end the public subsidy for newly planned onshore wind farms in the UK. A Conservative Government would also ensure that large-scale onshore wind farms in England and Wales are determined through the locally-led planning system - not the national infrastructure regime.
Conservatives in Government have already changed planning rules in England to give greater protection for landscape and heritage – and we will go further and amend planning policy in England to give even greater protection to locally valued landscape, heritage and other local concerns.
Ranil commented: “Many families in North East Hampshire, who are concerned that wind farms could be approved locally without their views being heard, will be appalled to hear about these Labour plans for a massive expansion of onshore wind.”
“Now that we have enough onshore wind power to meet our renewables target, we should be ending bill payer funded subsidies for newly planned projects and give local communities the decisive say on them, but only a Conservative government that would deliver that.”
“At the next election local people in North East Hampshire now have a clear choice: between the strong leadership of the Conservatives who will protect our local natural beauty for our children and grandchildren – or a vote for any other party which would lead to the chaos of more publicly subsided wind farms.”