June 6, 2014
Wales

Campaigners take fight to Welsh Government to save Dylan Thomas view

Carmarthen Journal | June 06, 2014 | www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk

Families fighting against plans for a wind turbine across the estuary from Dylan Thomas’s boathouse in Laugharne are taking their battle to the Welsh Government.

The proposals for the turbine at Mwche farm, Llansteffan, were recommended for refusal but councillors went against those recommendations at a planning meeting on Tuesday.

Campaigners had protested against the plans, claiming the turbine would blight the view from the iconic house.

Following the meeting campaigners said the boathouse view would be ruined, and the cultural and economic aspects of that, are what most people are worried about.

However, the 500 plus objectors now want the Welsh Government to call in the plans.

A letter has been sent from Laugharne Township Community Council to the Welsh Government.

Township councillor John Bradshaw said: “We are hoping we can overturn the decision even at this late stage.

“The fear is that there could be more turbines build on the land but we hope it won’t come to that.

“We have written to the Welsh Government on the grounds of environmental and historical impact on the area.”

A further letter from objectors has also been sent.

The letter from an objector said: “Local people have campaigned for months for refusal. There are in total more than 500 people who have said they do not want turbines in this position.

“All the local community councils are strongly against, as is Laugharne Township Community Council.

“The local planning officers recommended rejection, but despite this, at a poorly attended planning meeting – several councillors were absent – the councillors overturned the officers.

“The local people, who are against this application, are not saying there should be no turbines; just that this is the worst possible position for one.”

A spokesman for Carmarthenshire Council said planning officers would bring the application back to the committee giving detailed reasons for approving the scheme.

The council’s head of planning Eifion Bowen has also been granted powers to set conditions on the application, the spokesman added.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/06/06/campaigners-take-fight-to-welsh-government-to-save-dylan-thomas-view/

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