Campaigners fighting against controversial plans to erect six towering wind turbines in a Staffordshire hamlet fear they may have a bigger battle on their hands thanks to the EU.
Residents who live in Marston, near Stafford, have reacted angrily to news that the European Investment Bank (EIB) is to provide new finance to support eligible onshore wind farm projects.
The scheme, supported by the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the HM Treasury, could see the European Investment Bank (EIB) provide up to £700 million of new finance which would be matched by the RBS, the Lloyds Banking Group and BNP Paribas Fortis.
The announcement has been greeted with dismay from UKIP MEP Mike Nattrass and members of the Stop Turbines Action Group (STAG) who are fighting against plans to erect six 420ft tall turbines in Marston.
Last month, STAG members met with Mr Nattrass at the European Union Parliament in Strasbourg and following the meeting the West Midlands MEP pledged to support the campaigners.
However, the campaign has been delivered a blow by the news that the EU and banks will be providing up to £1.4 billion in loans for onshore wind farms.
Bob King, who is a Willenhall market trader and lives in Marston with his wife Yvonne, has this week attacked the EU’s interference. Mr King said: “It (the EU interference) means we could have a bigger fight on our hands in Staffordshire.
“I don’t think it sounds good, £700 million is a lot of money. The EU is holding a gun to our heads.”
Mr Nattrass said: “The residents are quite rightly concerned. The EU is once again interfering and their interference could result in eyesore wind turbines springing up all around the country including in the village of Marston.
“The Government believes the wind farms scheme, which will receive up to £700m in new finance from the EIB, is a good deal for the UK.
“This scheme is in fact a bad deal for Britain and for people living in rural communities like Marston who fear wind turbines will blight the beauty of their areas,” he added.
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