Sedgemoor wind turbine row blows up (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Sedgemoor wind turbine row blows up

5:28pm Tuesday 10th November 2009

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A POLITICAL row has blown up over plans for nine 400ft wind turbines in Sedgemoor.

The EDF Renewables wind farm proposals, for parts of East Huntspill, Puriton and Woolavington, were revealed in last month's Mercury - along with claims by Bridgwater's Conservative MP Ian Liddell-Grainger that Sedgemoor could become the 'wind farm hub of the universe.'

But Theo Butt Philip, Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for the area, has used the issue to take a swipe at his rival for the next General Election.

Mr Butt Philip said: “I believe reducing carbon emissions is essential to bringing climate change under control - I have yet to be convinced that Mr Liddell-Grainger shares this view.

“He claims to believe using renewable energy makes sense, yet I am not aware of a single renewable energy project that Mr Liddell-Grainger has supported.

“He says that he is concerned about Sedgemoor becoming the wind farm hub of the universe. This is clearly ridiculous - there is only one commercial wind turbine in the whole of Somerset whereas Cornwall has over one hundred.”

Mr Liddell-Grainger labelled Mr Butt Philip's comments 'disgraceful'.

He told the Mercury: “I am a supporter of Hinkley Point, which is renewable energy.

“The problem with this wind farm is that they have proposed it on probably the most outstanding wetlands area in Europe.

“Of course they have turbines in Cornwall, but there are no big ones like these would be.”

EDF announced it would consult with villagers over the wind farm plans in the new year, but ecological studies at the site have already begun.

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