April 4, 2008
Letters, Wales

Wind farm gravy train

Okay, I freely admit, and hold my head high to say that I am an active anti-wind turbine/generator campaigner.

Let’s dispel some myths; just because I hold that view, does not make me an anti-renewable activist; pro-nuclear or a Nimby!

I am, along with every other anti-wind turbine campaigner I’ve met or known, completely for renewable energy (as long as it’s not giant wind turbines), and am concerned that the environment is under threat. And I am fully aware that we need to make some sacrifices in order to achieve a long-term goal.

Global warming is happening, a certainty. What is uncertain is the cause of this global warming.

A few years ago, a minority of people tried to warn us of the impending march of the turbines. They claimed, at the time, that masses of these machines would start to spring up everywhere, as companies started to cash in on the global warming gravy train. A lot of people at the time thought that they were scaremongering or exaggerating the possibility.

I wonder how many of those people are now saying: “We told you so!”

We are now experiencing what those people were warning us of.

In Carmarthenshire alone, we have 11 turbines at Blaenwaun, four turbines above Pendine and three above Newcastle Emlyn.

In 2001, the council’s planning committee gave permission for three turbines at Blaen Bowi, Newcastle Emlyn.

Controversially, this was against the professional opinion of their own planning department. As a result, we received the three wondrous monstrosities we have at present.

In March 2005, the developers applied to double the amount of turbines to six, much to local disgust.

After much campaigning and the staunch efforts of local residents, and with the advice of their professional planning department, the planning committee refused the application for the extension in September 2007.

Now, the developers are appealing to the Assembly, and it would appear that they could be successful.

The general public can impose quite a force when we want to, and when it concerns a topic which we feel strongly about.

So, because of this threat, the developers are requesting that the Assembly Government deal with this application in a closed forum; behind closed doors with no objectors being heard!

So, make a loud enough noise to be heard; and there’s no greater noise than the noise of letters hitting the in-trays of politicians – local and national – along with writing to publications and newspapers.

Tim Greenwood

Drefach-Felindre

Llandysul

South Wales Evening Post

2 April 2008


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/04/04/wind-farm-gravy-train/