October 5, 2007
Wales
Wales
Plans for a wind farm in the upper Swansea Valley have been thrown out on the grounds of its visual impact.
The Planning Inspectorate upheld Neath Port Talbot Council’s decision to reject Awel Aman Tawe’s application for three turbines on Mynydd y Gwrhyd. An application was initially refused by members of the council’s planning committee because of its likely visual impact.
A public inquiry followed, after which inspectors backed the council and now the High Court has also turned down Awel Aman Tawe’s appeal against the decision.
Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said of her decision to oppose the windfarm,”My main concerns were the overbearing visual impact on both Tai’rwaith and Rhiwfawr and the fact that the wind farm would have been outside the TAN 8 strategic search area.”
There are seven areas in Wales chosen by the Welsh Assembly Government as recommended locations for turbines.
Awel Aman Tawe spokesman Dan McCallum said, “We are not giving up. Climate change is such a vital issue that we’ve all got to get behind renewable energy and energy efficiency.
“It’s too easy to sit back, be critical and say ‘not in my back yard’. We want it in the front garden.
“We have now submitted a revised 4MW wind farm proposal to Neath Port Talbot Council and are pressing ahead with our energy efficiency work.”
by Robin Turner, Western Mail
5 October 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/10/05/wind-farm-plan-appeal-rejected/