Power for the future dominates at Market Drayton debate

At the debate, hopeful MPs went head to head promoting their party's manifesto in front of a packed audience at the Festival Drayton Centre in Market Drayton.

A question from the floor grilled candidates on how their parties would look at alternative options to produce renewable energy other than windfarms – which many believe are inefficient – and saw candidates champion contrasting approaches.

Owen Paterson, who has acted as Conservative MP for North Shropshire for 18 years, said he did not agree with some of the figures on climate change.

He said it is "simply just not happening" and that there had not been a significant increase in temperature for years.

But Graeme Currie for Labour hit back at the claim and said those who were "denying" climate change in government needed to be addressed.

The Green Party, represented by Duncan Kerr, said: "We don't have another world to put some more carbon in and see the result.

"We have only got one world, it is the lives of our children and their children we are gambling with here.

"The reality is the world is warming," Mr Kerr added.

All parties put forward their plans to look for alternative energy sources including a fund idea from the Liberal Democrats.

Representing the Lib Dems was 20-year-old Tom Thornhill, who said that money wold be spent on research across renewable energy to find the right technology.

He said: "The Lib Dems have a pioneering idea for a renewable energy science fund that will draw upon expertise to do so something about the green revolution that is needed to be done."

The Ukip candidate, Andrea Allen, said that it was about getting rid of subsides for windfarms to stop the fluctuation in supply – something she said the National Grid cannot cope with.

Locally controversial, gas drilling plans have been put forward for Dudleston near Ellesmere.

The Ukip candidate said that under her party, communities would be considered.

She said: "If shale gas extraction should go ahead any community infrastructure levy fund must be earmarked to spending in the area."

For Labour, Graeme Currie said it is all about getting the balance right, and added that he had spoken out against plans to build a 100ft turbine in Tetchill near Ellesmere.

He said: "In terms of the use of windfarms, we need to get the science right and work out how we are going to do this.

"We have got to get the balance right between the environment and the use of windfarms.

"We need to look at the science around climate change."

But Mr Paterson said there were limited options when it came to renewable energy.

The one-time Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and former Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said there was "potential" in tidal and hydro power, but branded wind energy a "scam" and said there was not enough efficiency in solar energy.

Instead, he put forward plans to champion anaerobic digestion – he said: "The only really reliable one apart from hydro is anaerobic digestion – but it must be on waste, we should not subsidise burning food.

"What is happening in Germany is disgusting. When a significant number of people died of hunger last year, it is absolutely wrong and immoral to burn animal quality or human quality food."

But Mr Paterson instead said energy could be created by burning the food waste thrown away in the country each year. He added: "We do have a fantastic, God given chance in shale.

"Shale has reduced the American emissions of C02 and I strongly recommend that that is one of the options we look at."

Mr Kerr added that as a country we have not yet explored all the options including combined heat and power, hydro and solar.

But he emphasised the need to ensure houses were well insulated and looked after to help the issue and said it was about "getting the basics right".

The candidates also put forward their views on health and social care integration, freedom of speech and defence funding.

The evening was organised by the Market Drayton Senior Citizens Forum.