News from Sheffield Labour

Sheffield MP challenges Evelop on wind farm campaign

Local MP Angela Smith has challenged the Dutch company Evelop to tell local people who they are paying to gather support for their proposals.

Rumours are circulating that local green activists are in the pay of Evelop. While there may be nothing wrong with this, she does feel that in the spirit of openness they should declare just who they are paying when campaigning for support, given that in effect local people are signing up to a private sector development intended to generate profits.

She would also like confirmation from Evelop that there is no truth in the allegation that supporters of the wind farm are telling people that if they don’t support the wind farm at Sheephouse Heights they will end up with a nuclear power station in the area, despite South Yorkshire being totally unsuitable for such a facility.

Commenting, Angela said:

“While there is nothing wrong with commercial companies employing people to gather support, it is right that this should be done in an open and transparent way.

“If Evelop are employing activists they should let the people of Stocksbridge and Barnsley know this and who they are.

“So I say to Evelop, let people know who you are employing and what they are doing. Then people can make up their own minds about this proposal.”

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• Sheffield Lib Dems exposed over 'merciless' opportunism on fortnightly collections - 1 February 2012