August 19, 2010
Wales

Potential sites for giant Mid Wales substation revealed

Published by: Richard Jones, County Times, www.countytimes.co.uk 19 August 2010

A substation the size of 13 football pitches is expected to be built in either the Carno or Abermule/Kerry area by 2014.

The substation will be needed to service the windfarms that are expected to be built in Montgomeryshire over the next five years.

And sources say that 20 acre sites near Carno and Abermule have been earmarked for development by National Grid.

MP Glyn Davies told the County Times he is in talks with the National Grid to try and identify where they intend to build the substation but understands they have already shortlisted two sites.

While former MP Lembit Opik said the plans when he was in power were to build it in either the Carno or Abermule area.

A final decision is expected in October and National Grid have promised residents of Montgomeryshire that they will hear the news in the County Times first.

MP Glyn Davies said: “The Montgomeryshire landscape is going to become home to about 1,000 extra wind turbines, and a hideous, value destroying 400kv electricity cable, carried on huge steel towers, terminating in a 20 acre substation somewhere within a few miles of Newtown.

“In a few weeks time National Grid will announce the site of its Mid Wales substation. This will be no ordinary development. The substation will be 350 metres by 250 metres in size. That’s about 20 acres – or about 13 football pitches.

“We were expecting to be told where this substation is to be built six months ago, but National Grid inform me that a site has been difficult to identify.

“I’m not surprised. But a decision is now on the point of being finalised, and an announcement is likely in October.”

Meanwhile, former Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik, said: “To the best of my knowledge National Power are looking at building the substation in either the Abermule area or the Carno area.

“When I was still MP these were the two places they were looking to build the substation in Montgomeryshire.

“The area they have in mind near Carno is suitable for them because it is quite a central place to link-up all the windfarms, while the site near Abermule is an attractive one because there it is flat and an easy place to build.”

In the meantime, despite protests led by Welshpool Town Council, planners approved the Tir Gwynt Wind farm near Carno which will consist of 12 turbines, down from the original application of 22.

The approval came with 64 conditions and faced 80 objections. It also received over 200 letters of support. More wind farms are currently going through the planning process.

To learn more MP Glyn Davies’ thoughts about the situation read his column on page 10 and to find out more about the approved Tir Gwynt development read the planning report on page five.