Residents urged to make their views known on turbine plans 

Residents in Gellywen, near Meidrim, are being urged to have their say over plans for a wind turbine which could be erected on land above the village.

Plans have been lodged with Carmarthenshire Council planning department for a 50-metre high-wind turbine and associated infrastrucutre on land at Bwlchgwynt farm, Llanboidy Road, Meidrim.

To the blade tips the turbine would be 74 metres tall.

Villagers have just weeks to get their views and opinions to planner before the local authority planning committee discusses it.

Villager is John Hadley said while he is not against wind turbines he is concerned about the number of them springing up across rural Carmarthenshire.

“We want to know the full details of this application and have our say because it would seem to over look the village.

“People locally need to act quick if they want to get their say to planner, because we only have a small window of opportunity.”

He added: “Of course, farmers are entitled to strike deals with the energy companies but something has to be done to look at where they are all going on land in this part of Carmarthenshire.

“We are talking about one turbine on a farm, but more and more farmers are having turbines which does affect the look of the area we live.

“We are not nimbys and no-one is knocking farmers for going down that route and having income from wind turbines but we as residents are concerned with the amount going up locally.

“Surely there is an overall view or general plan to ensure we are not over run by too many turbines in one part of the county.

“There are other areas I would say better suited for them in Carmarthenshire.”

He said another issues residents are seeking clarification on is how Section 106 cash would be given to the village as Gellywen lies between the community councils of Meidrim and Trelech.

“We have been told that some money would be available as a result of the turbine being built but how we as a village would manage it is a big question.

“Normally, money is given to community councils but our village is in the middle of two so whether we set up a dedicated group to take control of any money remains to be seen.”

Looking at the location chosen for the turbine on the farmland, a design report on the proposed turbine by Seren Energy states: “The location and choice of wind turbine was carefully selected within the confines of the site and a number of key constraints were taken into consideration. Advice was sought from specialists in ecology and heritage.

“In addition, noise prediction, shadow flicker and visual impact calculations were carried out and local physical constraints such as proximity to roads, footpaths and land ownership boundaries were taken into account.”

It goes onto say: “The proposed location and turbine choice is considered to be the correct balance between all of these considerations and particularly with respect to heritage, ecology, noise impact, shadow flicker and visual amenity.”

The turbine application will be discussed over coming weeks by the county council.