Tributes to environmental campaigner who 'risked it all' in battle against turbines

AN environmental campaigner who fought to keep Teesdale free of wind turbines has died aged 84.

Elizabeth Mann, also known as Molly, was a dedicated member of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) for more than two decades. She lived in Darlington but was well known in Teesdale.

She was a formidable opponent of wind-farm development in areas of natural beauty. Her work fighting, and helping others fight, “inappropriate” wind turbine applications was legendary and gained national significance when she took the battle over proposed wind turbines on Barningham Moor to the High Court and won.

That ruling, in the 1990s, set the precedence that landscape was an important factor when considering applications. She also successfully campaigned to stop wind turbines being built near Bolam after they were proposed in 2009. Gillan Gibson, secretary of CPRE’s Durham branch, said: “We are sad to lose Liz but her family and friends can be proud of her exceptional work to protect our environment for future generations.

“Today that legacy can be seen when you look out across the moors from The Bowes Museum and see only moors – not a turbine in sight.”

Mrs Mann was a scientific civil servant in the 1950s and maths teacher from the 1960s to the 1980s at Haughton Secondary School and Hummersknot Comprehensive School in Darlington. Married to Stanley, who died a number of years previously, she leaves a daughter Claire, and son Dave. Her daughter recalled how much the High Court battle meant to her mother.

She said: “She was prepared to put her home up for collateral in order to ensure that the court battle was seen through to the end. She really did risk everything. But then she was a former maths teacher, had done her sums and was able to demonstrate that among other things, the government’s own figures did not add up.

“She was convinced the case would be won and was vindicated when it was.

“We were so happy about that, not least because she loved being out in the countryside and her work for CPRE meant an awful lot to her.

“She was thrilled that she was able to protect the beauty of the high moors around the Barnard Castle area.”

Mrs Mann’s funeral was held at Darlington Crematorium. Anyone who wants to know more about the CPRE can visit www.cpredurham.

org.uk