In whose back yard?

Paul Barltrop The Politics Show West

Burnham-on-Sea: Wind turbine plan has led to protracted battle

For renewable energy firms, the west of England is second to none. The likes of Good Energy, Ecotricity and Wind Prospect are well known at home and abroad.

However, for renewable energy itself, the West does not do well, especially with wind power.

In a region with abundant hills and coastline, there is just one commercial wind turbine - and fierce opposition whenever more are proposed.

So it is at Burnham-on-Sea beside the Somerset coast. A plan to put up five turbines close to the town has led to a protracted battle.

"We are not against wind farms as a matter of principle, it is just the particular location of this one that upsets us," says local councillor Eric Gill, as he looks across the fields to nearby Brent Knoll hill.

"We think the view of this outstanding landmark would be despoiled by huge wind turbines. I'm sure there are other places that they could be."

Plan for wind turbines at Hinkley Point

Last year the council threw out a planning application. It will go to appeal in the summer. Opponents are raising thousands of pounds to hire a lawyer.

Local support

But not all locals agree. Supporters of wind power have set up their own group, Families For Clean Energy.

"Everybody knows that climate change is an imminent disaster, and there are things we can do.

"We need to start now," says spokesperson Jo Brown, standing in a strong breeze on Burnham beach.

"We have the whole Atlantic ocean blowing wind all the time, and the South West of England has hundreds of miles of coastline.

"It is just what we need for wind farms."

At his office in the Cotswold town of Stroud, Dale Vince gives a weary smile.

The firm he founded in 1995, Ecotricity, is thriving, having doubled in size over the past year.

They run 11 wind farms in England. Yet in their own back yard they struggle.

"Wherever you go in the country, about 80% of the people will be for wind power, or not against it," he says.

"10% of people will be almost rabidly against it. 10 % do not know."

Planning process stalled

As a result the planning process takes years - and Britain's efforts to use more renewable energy are slowed.

By 2020 it is meant to be providing 20% of our electricity. But government officials have admitted that current policies mean 5% is more realistic.

To get away from climate-harming carbon-fuels something must change.

What happens on the Somerset coast will be telling: as well as at Burnham, there are plans for wind turbines down the coast at Hinkley Point.

The site is next to a nuclear power station - expected to be one of the first choices if the government agrees to build a new generation of reactors.

Tune into the Politics Show, to find out. And we would like to know what you think - e-mail us here!

The Politics Show on Sunday 18 February 2007 at 12:00 GMT on BBC One.