June 18, 2011
Wales

MP censured for link to wind turbine action group

by Martin Shipton, Western Mail, www.walesonline.co.uk 18 June 2011

A Welsh Conservative AM has been criticised for allying himself with a group that proclaims it is prepared to take “direct action” in its campaign to stop pylons and wind turbines being built in Mid Wales.

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies denied supporting vandalism and other forms of lawbreaking but Labour said he was unwise to have become a Facebook friend of a group called Direct Action Against Pylons.

There is a growing campaign against plans in which hundreds of new pylons and wind turbines could be erected across Mr Davies’ constituency in Mid Wales.

Last month, around 1,500 protesters converged on the Senedd, urging the Assembly to review its Tan 8 wind farm policy before it “destroys upland Mid Wales”.

Mid and West Wales Labour AM Rebecca Evans said: “Tan 8 is an emotive issue but calm heads need to prevail. I am concerned about the suggestion of direct action, which in this case I would understand potentially to mean vandalism or other illegal actions.

“Glyn Davies needs to explain why he is associating with this group and whether or not he would accept vandalism as ‘fair game’.”

Mr Davies responded: “I don’t accept vandalism as fair game, and I would certainly be opposed to any question of breaking the law.

“It depends on your interpretation of direct action. It could mean protests like the one in Cardiff.

“I have consistently opposed this kind of development in Mid Wales since 2004, when it was first mooted. The reason why more and more people are opposing this development is because they have become aware of its implications. It would lead to the industrialisation of a beautiful part of upland Mid Wales.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/06/18/mp-censured-for-link-to-wind-turbine-action-group/