Waveney MP Peter Aldous this week led a Parliamentary debate on local concerns regarding the Government’s handling of two renewable energy project proposals in the Beccles area. 

 

In the Westminster Hall debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Peter called for a fresh inquiry into the controversial 125-metre high wind farm in Barsham, which is currently being contested by the local community in the High Court. Waveney District Council refused the application to build the turbine on visual impact and noise grounds. The Secretary of State, Eric Pickles MP, declined to recover the case, despite strong local pressure for him to do so, after a successful appeal by the developer. 

 

Peter also outlined the position at Ellough where a solar farm application was recommended for approval by the Planning Inspector, but was turned down by the Government.

 

He is particularly concerned about the fact that the local community have not been listened to, given that the Secretary of State recovered for his own decision the Ellough case on which Peter only received one representation against the development, but declined to do so at Barsham where most of the local community including Beccles Town Council and nine parish councils, had expressed their opposition to it.

 

Peter said that he believed the way these two renewable energy project proposals were handled was wrong and called on the Minister to:-

The Minister responding, Stephen Williams MP, confirmed that the Secretary of State would be advised of the full picture in the Beccles area along with Peter’s ‘asks’ and gave his reassurances that information on renewable energy appeals that have been recovered since October 2013 would be put in the public domain.