June 12, 2013
Wales

Communities to have a say on power line route

By Carmarthen Journal | Wednesday, June 12, 2013 | www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk

Communities in Carmarthenshire will be asked for their views on the route a new overhead power line will take to connect the proposed wind farms in the north of the county with the National Grid.

It needs to link the turbines near the Brechfa Forest with the Swansea North substation.

The suggested route at the moment will run from Brechfa to Llandyfaelog to the south of Carmarthen, where it will connect with existing overhead lines.

But Western Power Distribution (WPD) stresses no decision has yet been taken.

The project, unveiled this week, is called the Brechfa Forest Connection.

Three new wind farms – Brechfa Forest West, Brechfa Forest East and Bryn Llywelyn – are at various stages in the planning process.

Due to the size of the wind farms involved, a 132,000 volt (132kV) connection is required.

But the final course of the route will not be announced until the end of the year after consultations are carried out.

Andrew Hubbold, of WPD said: “We have carried out detailed studies to identify corridors of land in which we could site an overhead line on twin wooden poles.

“We are keen to seek the views of these representative groups and receive information about the proposed route corridors before a preferred route corridor is selected. Once chosen, people will be invited to say what they think.

“Initially we will be asking for their views on where to locate the connection within the route corridor and then on the detailed proposal before we apply for permission to build it.”

Over the next two years WPD said it would be talking with a wide range of groups, communities and elected representatives to get help in developing the proposals.

The first consultation on the potential route will begin at the end of June and will involve local authorities and community councils.

Following this, in 2014, consultations will be held with local communities, landowners and the wider public about where an overhead power line might be placed within the route corridor.

WPD is aiming to complete the connection between the proposed wind farms and the electricity network in 2016, following the submission of an application to the Planning Inspectorate.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/12/communities-to-have-a-say-on-power-line-route/