UK - Environment Secretary to remove red tape on domestic wind turbines

David Miliband, the environment secretary, has announced that the government intends to make it easier for householders to fit wind turbines to their roofs. Writing on a 10 Downing Street blog yesterday, Mr Miliband hinted that planning restrictions could be eased in favour of the renewable energy generators.

"[From] October 1st the planning rules will change to make it as easy to install a wind turbine as a satellite dish," he said.

Mr Miliband, who also writes blog material for the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra), also added that the government would be launching a 'carbon calculator', which would enable people to gauge their carbon footprint and then reduce it.

Commenting on his blog on the Defra website, the environment secretary states that it is an attempt "to help bridge the gap - the growing and potentially dangerous gap - between politicians and the public".