November 6th 2009

Dear Editor

Sheffield Green Party is supporting the wind farm planning application for Sheephouse Heights, north west of Stocksbridge. The UK has the best wind resource in Europe. Wind turbine installations are an important part of a more secure sustainable low carbon future. The Green Party agrees totally that there is a need to protect our countryside. There is also a need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels with renewable energy in order to reduce carbon emissions. People who feel that turbines would be detrimental to their view should consider the findings of the "UK Climate Projections 2009" report based on research by the Met Office. It warns of a number of very serious likely consequences of climate change. "Drier, hotter summers could trigger water shortages and Mediterranean-style wildfires, especially in heath and moorland areas such as parts of the Peak District". Wildfires would obviously be greatly damaging to our view of the countryside and be damaging to wildlife. The predicted rise in the frequency and severity of flash flooding and storms - apart from the direct effects on people, this would, of course, cause considerable extra damage in the Peak and the views thereof. Whilst this illustrates how important it is to take positive measures to mitigate climate change. Wildlife organisations are now realising this. For instance, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds called for the UK wind farm programme to be speeded up. It seems as in other aspects of life the fear of the unknown and the effect of misinformation is usually dispelled once an idea becomes reality. For instance, surveys in the UK have consistently shown that people living near wind farms become generally more supportive of them after they have been operating for a short period.

David Garlovsky
Sheffield Green Party

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