Split at country charity over its support for energy farms

A RIFT has emerged within one of England’s biggest rural charities over its support for onshore wind and solar farms.

CPRE, the countryside charity, came out in favour of the return of subsidies for onshore wind and solar earlier this year, effectively ending its role as one of the country’s most vocal opponents.

But several of the group’s regional branches, many of which act as independent charities, have called on the Government to ban wind and solar developments on agricultural land.

“Wind turbines have been very disruptive to the landscape. They do not in any way match the character of the British landscape,” said Mark Sullivan, chairman of CPRE West Midlands, who has written to 25 local MPs. He added that solar farms are an “insidious” presence. Mr Sullivan said the national CPRE, which shortened its name from the Campaign to Protect Rural England in a bid to broaden its appeal, had picked up a “green agenda”.

The letter is backed by the five West Midlands branches, and CPRE groups in Devon and Northamptonshire have also raised objections. Mr Sullivan says if wind and solar farms return to the countryside “the long and costly fights against them will resume”.

The national CPRE, which recently released a manifesto recognising a “climate emergency”, says there is a general consensus within the organisation for “renewables done right”, with local community support.

But Tom Fyans, CPRE’s director of policy, said the onus was on the industry and government not to repeat past mistakes. He warned many members had “lost faith” in the system after early projects. The group recently opposed the UK’s largest solar park in Kent.