MIDDLE ENGLAND

We're still receiving reports and testimonials regarding the planning meeting yesterday, so there will be more on that anon.

For now, though, we think it is noteworthy that the BBC is beginning to question the strange lack of windfarms anywhere in the region.

The West Midlands is rapidly becoming the Area 51 of wind energy. The BBC have reproduced a map which shows that, while other parts of the country are striding forwards and embracing wind energy, our middle region is utterly bereft. The question being asked is: why?

Well, various silly answers have already been forthcoming. Some would like to think that there's not enough wind in the West Midlands. Which is a bit like saying there's not enough soil to plant windfarms on.

But the problem is rather more circular than that. Because there currently aren't any, most local people haven't the foggiest idea what a windfarm really is. And because they know nothing about them, they're easily suckered by the manic anti-windfarm propaganda spread about the place like muck by nimby protesters and their allies in the nuclear lobby.

The situation was made very clear at the Wychavon planning meeting. One Councillor knew all about windfarms because her daughter lives very close to one. So she was able to attest to the fact that they're not noisy and they're really rather wonderful to look at. That Councillor was the only one to vote in favour. She was also the only one who knew what she was talking about.

It is inevitable that more and more windfarms will be installed over the coming years. And, who knows, maybe one day the West Midlands will wake up and realise that it's missing out. And then, all those nimby lies will be exposed as the hogwash they really are.

Until then, sadly, too many people (and way too many Councillors) will continue to fall prey to the nasty nimbies and their insane stories.

Those who know about windfarms tend to support them wholeheartedly. Those who know nothing about them tend to talk a load of crap.

And the West Midlands remains the last bastion of idiot nimbyism. The land of the knave and the home of the twee.