July 24, 2007
Wales
Wales
A campaign group battling a plan to build a wind farm outside their village are hoping the new Assembly coalition might signal a change in energy policy.
According to section eight of the One Wales Agreement between Labour and Plaid, the Tan8 energy policy is to be reviewed.
The Assembly’s technical advice note (Tan) was revealed in 2005, paving the way for the introduction of renewable forms of energy.
It included two large areas of Neath Port Talbot as acceptable for large wind farms. In fact, Neath Port Talbot contains 38 per cent of all designated areas for wind farms in Wales.
The decision to review Tan8 has been welcomed by members of Glyncorrwg Action Group (Gag).
Group secretary Bette Slater said: “In view of this agreement to review Tan8, surely all planning applications for wind farms should be put on hold until this review has taken place.
“As local authority planning committees follow Tan8 guidelines in deciding on planning applications, this deferment would seem to be common sense. Hopefully, this review will not accept the present recommendations under which 38 per cent of all wind turbines for Wales could be built in the Neath Port Talbot Council area. This is totally unfair. We urge the Assembly Government and Neath Port Talbot Council to put a hold on planning applications until the review.”
Plans are in the pipeline for two developments in the Afan Valley at Glyncorrwg.
The first, Corrwg Fechan, which would take the place of a larger, six-turbine wind farm that generated fierce opposition when it was proposed last year, would see four 410ft wind turbines near the village.
The proposals have provoked strong opposition, with Gag leading the way.
Mrs Slater added: “Areas like Glyncorrwg feel under constant threat in the present situation. Over a year ago on February 14, 2006, in a submission to the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee, the Glyncorrwg Action Group said: “There needs to be an independent review of the Tan8 proposals”.
“We are happy this review is now taking place for the sake of all the communities affected by these draconian proposals which seem to have been hastily conceived and urgently need to be reviewed.”
WEBLINK
By Alex Brown
24 July 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/07/24/wind-of-change-for-turbine-plan/