MP slams Old Hutton power station plans in Parliament ahead of crunch vote

Local MP Tim Farron has used a debate in Parliament to criticise plans for a gas-fired power station in the village of Old Hutton, ahead of the proposals being brought forward to a planning committee meeting tomorrow.

Plans were rejected by South Lakeland District Council back in January, but modified plans have been submitted by the developers.

A key difference in the new plans is the reduction in the height of the smoke stacks from 15m to 12m, something which Tim says makes the plans even more inappropriate for the local community.

Tim said: "The developers have tried to alleviate concerns about the station being an eyesore by reducing the size of the stacks. But all this means is that the fumes will be lower and much more likely put the health of the kids in the local primary school, which is just two fields away from the proposed plant, at risk.

"These plans are still completely out of keeping with a quiet rural area between two national parks.

"The developers from London obviously have no idea how special our landscape is and are just trying to make a quick buck.

"The plans were wrong for the community in January and they're wrong now."