BEING a Member of Parliament is a job of contrasts, and I was reminded of this in no small measure in the period since my last column in this esteemed organ of record.

A couple of Saturdays ago found me in sensible shoes and about to undertake an awareness raising walk organised by the Stop Salden Turbines group. As you may be aware, there is a plan afoot to build a wind farm on the land at Cowpasture Farm between the villages of Newton Longville, Mursely and Drayton Parslow.

This is not the first such application that I have campaigned against in the constituency; both Stoke Hammond and Dinton have been subject to similar proposals. Happily the latter two have been rejected by Aylesbury Vale District Council but, as the developers reserve the right to object to this decision, the fight is far from over. However, Stop Salden Turbines are spearheading an excellent campaign and I am cautiously optimistic – although far from complacent – that the council will see sense on the application as they have on others.

I had the privilege to address the group of local residents who had turned out to take part in the walk, on which I joined them. I consider any opportunity to talk to Buckingham constituency residents an enjoyable part of my role, as well as an invaluable means by which I can really understand the intricacies of certain issues of concern and attempt to help as best I can.

A few days later I was decked out in the formal robes of the Speaker for the State Opening of Parliament, along with gentlemen bearing the rather splendid titles of “Rouge Dragon Pursuivant” and “Maltravers Herald Extraordinary” and Commons officials, all in neck ruffles of various sizes. The State Opening is ordinarily the only time the Queen, as Head of State, visits the Palace of Westminster to mark the beginning of the new Parliamentary session, and it is a tradition that dates back to the sixteenth century. Although some criticise it as being archaic, I am always immensely proud to be part of the pomp and ceremony. It is a reminder of Britain’s democratic heritage and the importance of Parliamentary democracy to our society today.

Although I will be having the meeting in Parliament, I will be dressed more modestly when I meet the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, this week. We will be meeting to discuss the planning implications of wind turbine applications, and I hope that it will be a fruitful exchange of views.