Standing on the picturesque promenade of her home village, global stage star Samantha Barks has stepped directly into one of the Isle of Man’s most divisive public debates: the proposed Mooir Vannin offshore wind farm.
And she is unequivocal: she opposes it.
Listen:
Favourite Place on Earth
I hadn’t seen Samantha for almost 20 years, having first met her when she came to Energy FM for work experience. She also presented an evening show through the summer.
So, I was fascinated to meet her again and to find out why the now global star had bravely taken such a public position on a subject that divides people the world over. A debate that can often get quite heated.
Barks returned to Laxey Beach, the shoreline she calls her “favourite place on earth,” to talk to me about why she has aligned herself with campaign group NOT4IOM.
She described the beach as a place woven into her childhood, the after‑school meeting point, the horizon she grew up with, the view she wants her own child to inherit.
“I never take Laxey for granted. I love it. I tell everyone around the world: if you come to the Isle of Man, you go straight to Laxey Beach.”
Barks stressed repeatedly that her stance is not anti‑green energy. She supports renewables. She supports climate action. But Mooir Vannin, she says, is not a Manx energy project.
“This is a conversation about the UK’s energy. The Isle of Man would take the hit to supply the UK.”
Her concern is not ideological, it is proportionality. She argues that the scale of the development is wildly out of balance with the Island’s size, character and coastline.
Looking out across the flat horizon, Barks said she cannot imagine the proposed structures dominating the view.
“Eighty‑seven windmills around the size of the Eiffel Tower. I can’t fathom that. I can’t imagine that being the future of what we’re looking at.”
She believes the visual impact alone is enough to justify opposition — but says the issue goes deeper.
Impact But No Benefit
Barks argues that Mooir Vannin would fundamentally alter the Island’s natural identity while delivering no guaranteed direct energy benefit to Manx residents.
“This is not about energy for the Isle of Man. That would be a very different conversation.”
She framed the decision as a generational legacy, warning that once the horizon is industrialised, it is gone for decades.
“We owe it to our grandparents and our future generations. Once that view’s gone, it’s gone.”
Asked whether any redesign or mitigation could make the scheme acceptable, Barks was firm.
“No. It doesn’t mean you have to accept every idea from a corporation. I just don’t think this is right for the Isle of Man.”
She emphasised that her opposition is rooted in scale, proportionality and the project’s purpose — not in hostility toward renewable energy itself.
A Mother’s View
Barks said becoming a parent has sharpened her sense of responsibility for the Island’s future. “For our kids and our grandkids to think they wouldn’t be able to sit here like we are and enjoy this stunning beach — it’s heartbreaking.”
Celebrity Stance: A Huge Risk?
Despite the risks of taking a public stance, Barks says the island has responded warmly.
She acknowledges some social‑media pushback from people who assumed she opposed wind power entirely. A misconception she says is important to correct.
“I do support renewable energy. This is not about being against wind farms. It’s about this scheme being for the UK’s energy.”
With her global profile and deep Manx roots, Barks’ intervention adds a new dimension to the public debate. NOT4IOM has gained momentum in recent months, and her support is likely to amplify the group’s message far beyond the Island.
Her position is clear, emotional and rooted in place:
“I would just love to support in any way to say that I absolutely oppose it.”
