Green politicians support windfarm at Sheephouse Heights

21st April 2009

Green Party politicians in Sheffield have come out in support of the windfarm at Sheephouse Heights, on the border of Sheffield and Barnsley near Stocksbridge. Local Stocksbridge Town Councillor Dan Lyons has been outspoken in explaining the need for the development to the local community. He has the support of Sheffield City Councillor and leader of the Green Group, Cllr Jillian Creasy and Steve Barnard, the Green Party's local candidate in the forthcoming European elections. The Greens are urging members of the public to write to Barnsley Council in support of the planning application to erect the five proposed 125m turbines.

Cllr Dan Lyons said:

"Scientists now realise we have less than 10 years to start seriously curbing greenhouse gas emissions if we are to prevent a rapid rise in world temperature which could lead not only to huge impacts in and of itself, but would trigger runaway climate change.

This is an urgent situation. Our community must grasp the bigger picture and play our part in producing clean energy. These efficient turbines could produce electricity for 9000 homes, roughly equivalent to a town the size of Stocksbridge. The site at Sheephouse Heights is far from pristine, untouched nature and already contains several large pylons and masts. Far from being an eyesore, I hope these slim, elegant structures will turn out to be a famous Stocksbridge landmark and a beacon of hope and forward-thinking. In the future, Stocksbridge folk will be able to look at their grandchildren and say: 'Yes, we did something, we didn't just bury our heads in the sand and betray our children and future generations’."

Cllr Creasy said:

"Sheffield City Council should support this application. The Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg MP has called for a massive expansion in renewable energy and backed the Greenpeace call for green jobs, yet in Sheffield the Lib Dem administration scuppered a feasibility study into a wind farm at Westwood Country Park and voted against the Greens’ call to support a windfarm at Sheephouse Heights. It was good to visit the site with Dan and to see how the turbines would fit into the landscape."

Steve Barnard, European candidate said:

"The UK could be a world leader in the renewable energy industry. We are better placed than anywhere else in Europe to access this source of power, but are failing badly to realise our potential. The Sheephouse development is important as we look to begin to generate more electricity which is clean and safe."

NOTES

Further info contact:

· Cllr Dan Lyons: 07799 117695 / dan@uncaged.co.uk

· Cllr Jillian Creasy: 07743 675650

· Steve Barnard: 0114 296 7396

PHOTO: Stocksbridge Cllr Lyons (right) shows his Sheffield colleagues (Steve Barnard and Cllr Creasy) where the wind farm would be sited. Stocksbridge is in the background.

ENDS

Cllr Dan Lyons
tel: +44 (0) 114 2722220 / 07799 117695
email: dan@uncaged.co.uk
Bate Green, Whitwell Lane, Stocksbridge S36 1GE


Dr Dan Lyons
Campaigns Director
Uncaged
5th Floor, Alliance House
9 Leopold Street, Sheffield S1 2GY
United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0) 114 2722220 / 07799 117695