May 22, 2013
Wales

Wind turbine application influx in the Gwendraeth Valley dubbed “chaotic”

Llanelli Star | May 22, 2013 | www.thisissouthwales.co.uk

A new campaign group has been set up to fight an influx of plans for wind turbines in the Gwendraeth Valley – a situation described as “chaotic and completely uncontrolled”.

Members of newly-formed group Residents Against Turbines (RATS) hope a united front against a bumper number of the structures will prevent them from arriving.

Aled Griffiths has proposed to build two 44.5 metre, 250kw wind turbines at Blaenlledi Farm Pontyberem – which Llanelli Rural Council has recommended should be refused.

Quiet Revolution is proposing to build three 5kw wind turbines near Brondini Cottages, while Judith and Seymour Merritt are also planning to build a single 50kw turbine at Ty Mawr Farm – both in Five Roads.

A spokeswoman for RATS said: “We felt we had to do something or they would be all over the place.

“I am shocked at how many have been submitted in the Gwendraeth Valley.

“Farmers are finding it hard – a lot of their subsidies are going and they are looking for something else. You can’t blame them but it’s not the answer.

“Many people are objecting over the visual impact, noise, health concerns, and also the cumulative impact – if one person gets one they will all bring them here.

“It will also affect tourism in the area.

“Hopefully common sense prevails – once they are there, they are there and we are stuck with them.”

Robin Cammish, of Coedbach Action Team (CAT), which successfully fought plans against an 80kW turbine, proposed for Poplar Tree Farm in Pinged, said there was an increasing number of companies selling a “complete package” of planning application and turbine installation.

“CAT has read a number of applications which have obviously been cut and pasted together from other schemes where the town names are wrong, and even where the number of turbines are wrong and don’t match up to the number applied for,” Mr Cammish said.

“Welsh planning policy and the technical advice notes clearly state that these are the preferred locations for major applications.

“However when it comes to small local wind turbines the situation appears to be completely chaotic and uncontrolled.

“It looks like Carmarthenshire planning have been inundated with small wind turbine planning applications in the last 12 months.

“To the CAT team it looks like most of these are of the kind that come as a ‘package’ as described above, and a number that CAT have looked at appear to be inappropriately sited.”

Another resident raised concerns over the safety of birds of prey including red kites, which live in the area.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/05/22/wind-turbine-application-influx-in-the-gwendraeth-valley-dubbed-chaotic/