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Conwy opposes plan for 250-turbine windfarm
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Conwy councillors yesterday voted to oppose a 250-turbine windfarm off the North Wales coast.
They also urged the Government to do the same when it rules on the scheme this year.
Developers npower Renewables Ltd had reduced the size of its proposed Gwynt y Môr offshore windfarm but Conwy council’s Cabinet nonetheless rejected it.
The Cabinet also objected to the fact that the final decision would be taken outside Wales.
The windfarm would be seven nautical miles off the North Wales coast between Penrhyn Bay and Prestatyn and could supply electricity to 500,000 homes a year.
The final ruling will be made by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform – formerly the Department for Trade and Industry.
But yesterday Conwy’s Cabinet agreed to back a feasibility study into an unrelated floating, tidal lagoon surrounded by turbines generating green energy off Rhyl.
Cabinet member Coun Mike Priestley later called the proposed 250-turbine windfarm an “overdevelopment”.
And fellow Cabinet member Coun Keith Toy said: “I believe decisions about Wales should be made in Wales.”
The council voted to object to the proposed windfarm and recommend the Government refuses it due to visual impact, scale, siting, noise and possible adverse effect on tourism.
NPower Renewables spokesman Mark Fleming said the firm was disappointed by Conwy’s objection to the project.
He said: “It’s a shame that Conwy Council haven’t realised the real economic benefits to the local area this could bring and the significant contribution we believe it can still make in tackling climate change.
“We have always maintained that a public inquiry will be costly and time consuming to all concerned.
“We would rather have spent the time and resources working with Conwy to ensure the project is a success in local terms as well as making a significant contribution to the UK renewable energy targets.
“However we remain entirely commited to delivering this project and are confident it falls well within government policy and expectations and will receive consent in due course.”
By David Powell
1 February 2008
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