Protected peatland should be protected, says Anna Dixon MP
- Apr 22
- 1 min read
Anna Dixon, MP for Shipley, yesterday spoke in the parliamentary debate on Wind Farms and Protected Peatland.
In the debate, Anna Dixon MP said: “Peatlands are crucial in our fight against climate change. They store a whopping 3.2 billion tonnes of CO2. They also reduce flood risk—something that particularly impacted constituents during the Boxing Day floods over a decade ago—and support biodiversity. The Labour Government are acting to stop the decline in nature depletion.
“I welcome the steps that Bradford council has taken to scale up peatland restoration on the district’s moorlands. In 2023, some £200,000 of additional funding was committed to rewet areas of the moorland. If someone goes to walk there, they can see blocked drainage ditches and things called leaky dams, which slow the flow of water.
“These investments are critical, and it is pleasing that the Labour Government are taking nature actions so seriously.
Speaking on the proposed Calderdale Wind Farm, Anna Dixon MP added: “Protected peatland should be protected. That is why there has been a recent announcement that large infrastructure must also be covered by a biodiversity net gain.
“There could clearly be major negative impacts on our precious peatlands in this area of Yorkshire, and I ask that the Government look carefully and reconsider the proposals.
“I support—as I know the Labour Government do—the protection of our special peatlands. We must tackle climate crisis, but at a local level we must balance our need to drive forward clean energy with the detrimental potential impact.”
