June 20, 2013
Wales

Neath Port Talbot to defend refusal of Mynydd y Gelli wind farm near Abergwynfi at public inquiry

By Paul Lewis | South Wales Evening Post | June 20, 2013 | www.thisissouthwales.co.uk

A stand will be made when a public inquiry into a wind farm proposed for the upper Afan Valley takes place next month.

Neath Port Talbot Council is sticking to its guns after turning down Gamesa Energy UK’s application for 12 turbines at Mynydd y Gelli near Abergwynfi.

Officers will defend that decision at a planning inquiry, which starts on July 2 – while councillors have also authorised them to oppose two alternative proposals the developers have put forward.

The application comprised 15 turbines, three in Bridgend and the remaining 12 in Neath Port Talbot.

Bridgend Council allowed the three within its boundary to go ahead but Neath Port Talbot rejected the remaining 12.

Head of planning Nicola Pearce said the alternative schemes would see the 12 turbines reduced by either two or three turbines.

But she said: “The reduction in the number of turbines will result in only a limited reduction in the effect upon landscape and associated residential amenity.

“It is considered that the proposed options, by virtue of the scale and close proximity to Croeserw, Abergwynfi and Blaengwynfi would result in the development appearing dominant and overwhelming in some cases.”

Mrs Pearce said there were places in Croeserw where the Gamesa turbines would also been seen in conjunction with the existing Ffynnon Oer development and the proposed Pen y Cymoedd wind farm.

This would create the impression that the houses were surrounded by turbines.

There was unanimous support for the request to be allowed to oppose both alternatives at the inquiry.

Glynneath councillor Eddie Jones, who lives near the Maesgwyn wind farm, said: “I support the officers fully in the way they are going about this.

“Can we have some more refusals, please?”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/20/neath-port-talbot-to-defend-refusal-of-mynydd-y-gelli-wind-farm-near-abergwynfi-at-public-inquiry/