John Prescott attacks wind turbine 'nimbys'

John Prescott, the former Deputy Prime Minister, has launched a savage attack on wind turbines 'nimbys' - people who say "not in my backyard."

Published: 7:26PM BST 26 Aug 2009

He criticised people who opposed wind turbines being set up near their homes and planning committees who uphold their objections.
Launching a new environmental campaign ahead of this year's Copenhagen conference on climate change, he criticised a number of recent decisions to refuse permission for new projects to generate renewable energy.
"We have to counteract the nimbys who say they want change, but not in their backyard," he said
Mr Prescott said opposition forces were gathering against an international climate change agreement being reached in Copenhagen.
Mr Prescott was speaking as more than a thousand environmental activists set up a climate change camp in south east London.
The site, at Blackheath, overlooks the financial centre at Canary Wharf and was chosen because of its historical significance as the place where Watt Tyler, leader of the peasant's revolt was killed while protesting against high taxes.
Organisers said this year's venue symbolised the financial and corporate centres of power, and was within the floodplains of the River Thames, which they warned was at risk of bursting its banks as climate change escalated.
Blackheath has since been the meeting point for a series of battles, revolts and demonstrations, and more recently was the venue for an anti-poll tax concert in 1988, headlined by the music group Squeeze.
There were mixed reactions among people living nearby tonight when they learned that up to 3,000 environmental protesters will be their neighbours for the next week.
The grassy site is overlooked by more than 50 homes which usually enjoy a view of open heath land.