March 6, 2013
Wales

Commons set for debate on turbine plans

By Graeme Wilkinson | Carmarthen Journal | March 06, 2013 | www.thisissouthwales.co.uk

Plans to build 28 wind turbines in the Brechfa Forest will be debated by MPs in London today.

Carmarthenshire East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards has been selected to hold a discussion on the development at the House of Commons’ second chamber, Westminster Hall.

Energy company Rwe Npower Renewables has applied for permission to build the wind farm on forestry land behind the existing Alltwalis Wind Farm.

Because the development is so big, it has not gone through the county council’s planning process. Instead, it has been scrutinised by the National Infrastructure Planning inspectorate and a decision will be made by the minister of state for Climate Change Gregory Barker MP.

Through Parliamentary questioning earlier this year, Mr Edwards discovered Mr Barker had decided not to visit the site.

At the time, Mr Edwards branded the minister’s decision as “an insult to his constituents” and “nothing short of a disgrace”.

Mr Edwards sought a Parliamentary debate in order to put his constituents’ concerns to the minister directly.

He said: “I’m naturally very pleased to have been selected to hold a Parliamentary debate on an issue of great concern to the communities I represent.

“Decisions about our natural resources should be made by our own democratic bodies, not by an imperial government in London.

“I am not prepared to sit back and allow UK government Ministers pass judgement on a major energy development in my constituency with absol- utely no knowledge of the area or how my constituents could be affected.

“I look forward to putting my concerns directly to the Minister next when he comes to my debate.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/06/commons-set-for-debate-on-turbine-plans/