A pro wind farm MHK whose son had set up a Facebook group purporting to be a ‘support’ page for residents, has denied the page was misleading but did concede it was ‘ambiguous’.
Dr Michelle Haywood MHK (Rushen) has confirmed to Manx.News that it was her son Ethan Cowley who had established a group with an almost identical name to that of a residents group who are opposed to the development.
As a result of the inquiries by Manx.News, Dr Haywood told us that she had advised her son to consider changing the name of the group which was titled “Earystane & Scard Windfarm Community Support Group“.
Dr Haywood, who is in favour of the development of a wind farm at Earystane, had been promoting membership of her sons ‘rival’ group and sending out invites for people to join it.
She denies that her position is compromised and said there was no duty for the page to be ‘unbiased’.
I am proud to have raised a young man who is confident enough to speak up for what he believes in.
Dr Michelle Haywood MHK
Mr Cowley has since changed the name of the Facebook group to “Support in Favour of Earystane & Scard Windfarm”.
Compensation Scheme
Dr Haywood had recently claimed she was lobbying for residents affected by the wind farm plans, to receive compensation from a scheme similar to that of HS2 High Speed Rail project in the UK.
Despite there being no compensation schemes in place or even proposed yet, the Rushen MHK claims she has been in discussion with political colleagues and members of the MUA Board and Treasury.
Dr Haywood told Manx.News that “In the case of HS2, properties in the vicinity of the line were purchased by the government at above market rate (agreed with the homeowners) through a variety of schemes.
“Most of the property was resold once the development had been concluded, and the money was largely recouped because there were house buyers willing to move into the homes that weren’t bothered by the proximity of the line.
“Thus the overall costs were fairly low (mainly legal costs which the government paid for both parties, valuation and moving costs). I think it is unfair for people in the area to feel they are trapped in their homes whilst the prospect of development is investigated.”
Government sources have told Manx.News that it is unlikely the Manx Government would be introducing a scheme to purchase people’s property in this way; another resident said Dr Haywood was just virtue signalling and knows full well schemes of this sort will never happen.
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