February 16, 2012
Wales

Wind turbine protestors ambush councillors on Anglesey

by Owen R Hughes, DPW West, Daily Post, www.dailypost.co.uk 16 February 2012

Furious wind turbine protesters ambushed councillors on a site visit to press home their opposition to the “industrialisation” of the countryside.

Members of the planning committee were on a visit close to Llanddona, Anglesey yesterday where an anemometer to measure wind speeds is proposed to be sited.

The site visit came as villagers said they found out of development plans for more turbines between Beaumaris and Llanddona.

This saw up to a hundred people with placards march on the councillors.

Resident Kate Barker said: “Villagers of Llanddona pleaded with members of Anglesey Council to stop, get out of their bus and listen to their concerns about giving planning consent for an anemometer at Llanddona.

“Tired from having to try to fight so many applications for industrial wind turbines on Anglesey, emotions began to tell on both sides.

“Even children had written pleas on parcel paper ‘please don’t put them up’.”

She added: “The main industry on the island is tourism and reports are coming in that tourists are cancelling bookings, for example purchasers have puled out of buying static caravans, and developers are putting plans on hold.”

The proliferation of wind turbine applications on Anglesey, some 115 metres high, has caused a huge backlash from residents with a protest outside Anglesey Council earlier this month.

Kate added: “This is an island of peace and quiet and of inspiration. There are plenty of businesses we could attract here which would thrive in this setting.

“The council could use the European investment to provide super high speed third generation satellite networks which would provide real, long term jobs for the young.

“This would be capitalising on the islands strengths and on long standing businesses.

“To bring about a complete step change to turn Anglesey into an industrialised area would be a terrible mistake for the long term future of the island.”

The council has currently put all wind turbine applications on hold until new planning guidance is produced.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/02/16/wind-turbine-protestors-ambush-councillors-on-anglesey/