Shropshire Star

Anti-windfarm campaigners to meet MP Philip Dunne

Campaigners are to meet with a county MP as part of the fight to stop plans for wind turbines which they claim will blight an 'unspoilt area of Shropshire landscape'.

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Campaigners are to meet with a county MP as part of the fight to stop plans for wind turbines which they claim will blight an 'unspoilt area of Shropshire landscape'.

The Stop Bridgnorth Windfarm action group wants Ludlow MP Phillip Dunne to see for himself the site for the proposed turbines. There are plans for two 230ft wind turbines on a ridge three miles west of Bridgnorth near Meadowley and Chetton.

Voluntary group Sustainable Bridgnorth and Ludlow not-for-profit organisation Sharenergy have joined forces under the name Crida Community Wind to develop the plans after being approached by a farmer.

The turbines would provide enough electricity for 750 homes.

The energy would go into the National Grid and some of the money made would be ploughed back into the community.

Bob Ensum, chairman of Sustainable Bridgnorth, says the turbines would be positioned away from the Jack Mytton bridleway in Meadowley.

But William Cash, action group chairman, said: "When Mr Dunne sees what the cumulative effect of the proposed development would be to the landscape and the impact on local tourism we are very much hoping he will write to Shropshire Council asking for a full environmental impact assessment."

Mr Cash, who is son of Bill Cash MP, said: "The impact will clearly be significant."

The action group, which is made up of residents from the small villages of Morville, Chetton, Underton, now has more than 100 active members, and a growing number of supporters including author Katherine Swift who lives at the Dower House in Morville.

She said: "For many visitors, Bridgnorth and its surrounding hills are their first glimpse of Shropshire.

"To place wind turbines in this crucial position, where they will be visible from as far afield as Wolverhampton, is unthinkable."

Mr Dunne agreed to meet with the group on Thursday.

By Lisa Rowley

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