Commenting on the planning application to construct a giant wind turbine under a mile from Lichfield on the eastern side of Watery Lane (planning application 09/01166/FULM), Michael Fabricant says:-

"This has got to be some sort of joke. The total height visible will be 126 metres above the ground. The centre of the turbine will be 80 metres above the ground with each blade being over 46 metres long. To put this in some perspective, the highest tower of Lichfield Cathedral is under 79 metres so will be utterly dwarfed by this turbine which will be visible for miles around Lichfield.

"Conservation of the environment ought to be a balance between the need to conserve non-renewable energy sources while not destroying the immediate environment in the process. And while near neighbours will be disturbed by the noise, Samuel Johnson’s spires of Lichfield’s Cathedral and Churches – which he named as ‘The Ladies in the Vale’, as well as more recent constructions like the Armed Forces Memorial, will all be totally overshadowed by this incongruous and ill-placed construction.

"While I fight to keep the character of Lichfield in order to attract tourist money to boost the economy of the area, developments like this will do untold damage. I urge local councillors to oppose this planning application."