July 24, 2008
Wales

Residents facing fight to block 19 wind turbine bid

Pontarddulais residents could have one of the biggest wind farms in Britain on their doorstep.Thousands of leaflets have been distributed to homeowners giving details of the plans by npower to site 19 wind turbines on an area covering nearly 1,200 acres on top of Mynydd-y-Gwair.

The leaflets, which are landing on around 22,000 front door mats in the Pontarddulais and Mawr areas, are the latest round in a long-running battle between the power company and campaigners.

Councillor Ioan Richard, who represents Mawr Ward, is just one of many people against the plans.

He said: “The plan is just an easy way for the energy companies to make fast money without taking into consideration the long-term effects on the local community.” The largest of the proposed turbines would stand 127 metres to the tip of the blades – twice the height of Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square.

Opponents of the scheme, including campaign group Save Our Common Mountain Environment (Socme) say the wind farm would become an eyesore and would ruin the natural beauty of the local area.

And members fear the project would have a destructive impact on the local ecosystem. There are also concerns construction work would cause traffic chaos.

A spokesman for npower said Mynydd-y-Gwair had been identified as one of the best places in South Wales for a wind farm, and would produce enough electricity to supply the average needs of 28,000 homes.

She said: “There are three planned proposals in negotiations for similar-size farms to be built around Wales.”

Laura Davies

Evening Post

24 July 2008


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/07/24/residents-facing-fight-to-block-19-wind-turbine-bid/