April 5, 2014
Wales

Desecration fears over wind farm bid

Shropshire Star | April 4, 2014 | www.shropshirestar.com

Wind farm projects to the size and scale proposed for Mid Wales are “totally unacceptable” and would amount to the “desecration” of the countryside, Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies has told a public inquiry.

And his message was echoed by Montgomeryshire Assembly Member Russell George, who said the vast majority of his constituents were “totally opposed” to the wind farm plans.

Both politicians made statements to the public inquiry yesterday into plans for five wind farm projects in the region and an associated electricity line.

Mr Davies said there was huge opposition to the plans, which he described as akin to the “desecration” of Mid Wales.

He said councillors in the area shared his worries about the impact the wind turbines would have on the region, its landscape, its business and its tourism.

Mr Davies told the inquiry at the Royal Oak Hotel in Welshpool: “Every councillor I have spoken to shares my concerns about the implications of what might happen to our beautiful part of Mid Wales.

“My view is that it is an area that should be protected. It is a landscape that is worth protecting. The scale of development is such that it is totally unacceptable.

“We have reached a reasonable target for on-shore wind. I think it is time to say enough is enough.

“It will be the industrialisation of Mid Wales.”

Mr George said: “I can’t get away from the fact that the large majority of the people I represent are totally opposed to this industrialisation of our landscape.”

Welshpool town clerk Robert Robinson, speaking for the Montgomeryshire Local Council Forum, raised several concerns about the plans at the inquiry yesterday.

Among them was the impact on tourism with a survey suggesting tourism figures would fall from between 10 to 25 per cent in the power plans get the go-ahead.

David Hughes from Kerry Community Council said people in his area opposed to the power plans, describing them as “environmental vandalism”.

The inquiry was set up after Powys County Council’s Cabinet raised objections to plans for wind farms at Llanbadarn Fynydd, Llanbrynmair, Llaithddu, Llandinam and Carnedd Wen as well as the installation of an electricity line at Llandinam.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/04/05/desecration-fears-over-wind-farm-bid/