Green MEP candidate to visit “Age of Stupid” windfarm

The Green Party’s lead candidate for the East of England in next month’s European elections, Dr Rupert Read, will be giving his backing to a long delayed windfarm when he visits the proposed site on Friday May 29th.

The planning battle over the development at Airfield Farm, Podington, next to the Santa Pod drag-racing track in Bedfordshire, is documented as one of the real-life stories in the new feature film “The Age of Stupid”. The film stars Pete Postlethwaite as “The Archivist”, who looks back in time from a ravaged planet Earth in 2055 asking why we didn’t stop climate change when we had the chance.

The film documents objections to the original proposal for nine turbines at Airfield Farm, a proposal rejected by planners in 2007 after a campaign by local people. Now the developers, Nuon Renewables, have submitted a revised plan for three turbines producing enough clean energy for three thousand homes. This application is currently being processed by Bedford Borough Council.

Dr Read will visit Airfield Farm with Demelza Stevenson, who will explain how the company’s plans have been modified to take account of earlier objections so that the scheme can go forward.

Rupert Read is a wholehearted supporter of the development. One of his stated aims if elected as the East of England’s first Green MEP on June 4th would be to work to turn the region into a hub for the development of renewable energy of all kinds, including wind, tidal and solar power as the best way to stave off the damaging effects of man-made climate change, so graphically illustrated in “The Age of Stupid”.

Dr Read said
“When projects like this get the green light, it’s a great thing: that’s what we need to happen here. That’s why I am visiting on the 29th to back this project. Having spent months campaigning on the doorstep, I get a real sense that people want more investment into the creation of green jobs, which projects like this would provide. Now, more than ever, people are looking for job- and energy- security. I hope to be able to continue fighting for those goals as an MEP after June 4th; and I will continue to support projects like Airfield Farm where a better future is being created, on the ground and in the air”.