'We have to fight wind farm'

A COUNCIL has defended its decision to use £30,000 of taxpayers money to fight a controversial wind farm.

Derbyshire Dales District Council has agreed to release the money to go towards the cost of a public inquiry into the Matlock Moor development.

Council leader Lewis Rose said the cash will be used for legal fees to put forward its case against West Coast Energy's plans to erect five 125-metre high turbines.

He said: "The cost of the public inquiry will be split between ourselves and North East Derbyshire District Council as the development straddles both districts.

"Many residents in the area are concerned about the proposals because of the impact the turbines will have on the landscape.

"North East Derbyshire shares this view, so we are working together on this.

"I know we are being criticised by some groups but to some people whatever we do will be wrong.

"If we try to do something it will be criticised and if we don't do it we will be criticised."

The £30,000 comes on top of a bill for more than £55,000 earlier this year for an unsuccessful fight against four wind turbines being built near Carsington.

Protest group Action Against Matlock Moor Windfarm Proposal believes the money should come from West Coast Energy.

A spokesman for the group said: "We believe the developer is forcing these costs on the council by making an aggressive and shoddy application.

"It should be made to pay Derbyshire Dales and North East Derbyshire District councils' costs because they are forcing it on the community."

West Coast Energy prompted the inquiry after receiving no response to its planning application within the 16-week statutory deadline.

The Matlock Wind Farm Support Group says the £30,000 is a waste of taxpayers money.

Group spokesman David Jones said: "The district council has no mandate from its council taxpayers to be spending this money.

"The council urged the public tell it what we think about the Matlock Moor wind farm plan and of the 703 letters received more than 90% were in support of the plan.

"Yet now the council wants to spend our money opposing a scheme which we, the public, have told them we support.

"Derbyshire Dales District Council has a track record here; it took the Carsington Pastures wind farm appeal decision to judicial review, claiming it had a compelling case, only to find, after spending many thousands of taxpayers' pounds, that it was wrong.

"It clearly hasn't learned its lesson. The public wants to see local councils promoting and encouraging schemes like Matlock Moor, not spending our money trying to obstruct them."

West Coast Energy declined to comment.