THE land on which one of two controversial wind turbines could be sited to the south of Ipswich is part-owned by a Suffolk MP who has been working with constituents suffering from a wind farm on their doorsteps.

But Waveney MP Peter Aldous took no part in the decision to allow Partnerships for Renewables to apply for planning permission to put a turbine on the land near Jimmy’s Farm.

The MP is one of several family members who have a financial interest on about 300 acres of land to the south of Ipswich – he has a 1/15th share in the land.

Decisions on the management of the land are taken by other members of the family who are trustees, and his brother Simon Aldous who acts as estate manager.

Peter Aldous said: “The land has been in my family for 80 or 90 years, and I have a small interest in it but no management responsibilities.”

He has been working with residents of Kessingland, near Lowestoft, who say their homes have been devalued by the presence of huge wind farms which, they say, cause problems with noise and “flicker”.

Simon Aldous said he was aware of his brother’s situation when he was approached by Partnerships for Renewables about placing one of two turbines on his site.

However he felt that the proposal would have taken one of two turbines planned for the area further away from the homes in south Ipswich – so it would have benefited local residents.

Had he refused, the company would have put both turbines on land owned by Ipswich council which had already signed an agreement several years ago when the authority was run by a Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition.

He said other nearby properties, including Jimmy Doherty who rents Pannington Hall farm from the Aldous family trust, had been consulted.

Simon Aldous said the decision on whether to allow the wind turbines to be put up would now be an issue for Babergh District Council – the family would not be trying to influence the authority’s decision one way or the other.

n Is Wherstead the right place for a wind turbine? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email starletters@archant.co.uk