Labour parliamentary candidate Bob Blizzard has hit out at the government's energy policy, saying it is to blame for the shelving of the Galloper ofshore wind farm.
The 68-turbine project, expected to have been worth £20m to Suffolk's economy, was scrapped last week over energy company RWE's concerns the tight timescale to secure finance and accreditation would mean the project would be impossible to complete.
And Mr Blizzard called for a rethink to help save the project and the jobs that would come with it.
'Lowestoft's hopes of enjoying a huge jobs boost from new offshore wind farms on its doorstep have received a major blow because of the government's energy policy,' he said.'
'An urgent rethink is necessary if we are to avoid losing the best economic opportunity we've had for a generation
'Having championed Lowestoft's ambition to be a leading centre for UK's offshore wind, I have, over the past four years, sadly watched things slipping away, with new investment in new wind farms held up and now in serious doubt.
'These projects involve massive multibillion pound investment from companies. They need certainty from government and good forward contracts for their energy to make the decisions on which the jobs we hope for will depend.
Conservative MP for Waveney Peter Aldous disputed the claim, and said the government had shown a 'strong commitment' to Lowestoft.
'The announcement by RWE that they will not be progressing the development of the Galloper Wind Farm is disappointing,' he said.
'This Government have put in place policies that will enable the UK to remain the world leader in the offshore wind industry and at the same time provide value for money for taxpayers.
'The Enterprise Zone and Centre for Offshore Renewable Engineering and Assisted Area designations that the Government have granted to Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth demonstrate a strong commitment to our area and will play an important role in creating new jobs in the offshore energy sector.'
What do you think? Send your views to Postbox, The Journal, 147 London Road North, Lowestoft NR32 1NB or email andrew.papworth@archant.co.uk including your name and address.
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