So much hot air?

Allister Craddock
Politics Show East Midlands

Two thirds of applications for wind farms are rejected

You can read some of your comments on the programme here...

The East Midlands Politics Show puts the heat on our politicians over their policies on renewable energy.

The chairman of the all-party energy group at Westminster, Paddy Tipping, concedes, for instance, that two thirds of applications for wind farms are rejected or withdrawn.

He is also the Labour MP for Sherwood.

And he joins us on Sunday along with Green Party councillor, Richard Mallender, and a representative from the Tories.

Public opposition

So why does the prospect of building turbines put the wind up so many of us?

Recently even small-scale plans for up to five turbines have been rejected by local authorities in our region.

Our political editor, John Hess, will be reporting live from the site of another controversial project.

This time on farmland at Long Bennington on the Lincolnshire/Leicestershire border.

Infinergy plan to build 10 turbines at Thackson's Well Farm.

The company says the scheme would provide energy for about 12,800 homes.

But it is not enough to convince many of the people who live in the area.

Controversy over windfarms

Blot on landscape?

They say the wind farm would be a blot on the landscape.

And they question the extent to which it is energy-efficient.

The decision on whether to grant planning approval rests with South Kesteven District Council.

And we have invited them to take part.

Meanwhile Richard Mallender says more councillors need to wake up to the need to back projects like that proposed for Long Bennington.

And Paddy Tipping says that while the Energy Bill will bring additional money for the development of renewables, we all have to face up to the fact that it is more expensive.

And he warns utility companies will pass those extra costs onto us.

Resident's views

We hear from residents who are firmly behind the Long Bennington project as well as those who are fiercely opposed to it.

And you can e-mail us your thoughts too.

Are local politicians too reluctant to support wind farms?

Are those who reject them guilty of a lack of political courage or responding quite properly to legitimate public objections?

Are you prepared to pay more for some forms of renewable energy?

Or, put another way, can we afford not to make significant investments in projects like wind farms if we want to protect the planet from greenhouse gases?

So plenty to act on in this week's show. E-mail us with your views using the form below.

Join Jon Sopel and Marie Ashby on the Politics Show for the East Midlands - Sunday 02 March 2008 at 12:00 GMT on BBC One.

Ring us with your views on 0500 900 900 or email on the form below.

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