THE environment will be a key issue in the upcoming general election. BARRY GIBSON finds candidates in Calder Valley sharply divided on green policy

IN an election that’s supposed to be all about the economy, other issues struggle to get attention.

But Lib Dem candidate for Calder Valley Hilary Myers believes the solution to the financial situation lies in taking on another problem – climate change.

“The environmental agenda is very much linked to the economic recovery agenda,” she said. “We believe in creating jobs in green infrastructure by investing in renewables.

“Things like home insulation across the country will create a lot of jobs. We also believe in a massive extension of the rail network to make rail travel the transport of choice.”

But Mrs Myers is cautious when it comes to the controversial issue of building wind farms in the beautiful Pennine countryside of the constituency. She said: “There’s still a case to be made for increasing the number of wind farms in Calder Valley.”

Her Conservative opponent Clr Craig Whittaker is not in favour of large-scale wind farms in the constituency.

He said: “We’ve had a horrendous planning application for a wind turbine the size of Blackpool Tower on Todmorden Moor.

“That’s not the answer. We need more investment in solar power, wave power and off-shore wind farms.

“We need security of supply because we have a 60% reliance on gas. We need to change that balance.”

Clr Whittaker added that Conservatives would vary fuel tax to take into account the changing price of oil.

The Rastrick councillor said: “The fuel tax levy might stop some people driving, but it’s killing off our business. We’re seeing petrol prices of £1.20 a litre, which is crippling.

“We need to address this problem. When the price of oil goes up, the rate of tax should come down and vice versa.”

Greg Burrrows, who is contesting the seat for the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), doesn’t believe man-made climate change is taking place.

He said: “We’re very sceptical, we don’t think the science is there to support it. We believe that carbon dioxide is good for the planet, it makes things grow. An increase in carbon is beneficial.”

He added: “One volcano going off in Iceland is going to cool the Earth for quite a while.”

But despite this stance Mr Burrows, who is a self-employed engineer, has a keen interest in renewable energy.

He said: “Ten years ago I was looking for money to make a prototype of a wave engine but the Government wasn’t interested at all. I’m for renewable energy but the problem is the Government is only interested in helping the big companies like Npower.”

Labour candidate Steph Booth could not be reached for comment yesterday.