February 3, 2015
Wales

Campaigners’ relief as wind farm refused for Mynydd Marchywel

South Wales Evening Post | February 03, 2015 | www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk

Communities across the Dulais and Dyffryn Valleys are celebrating after news that an appeal against Neath Port Talbot Council’s decision to refuse a five-turbine wind farm, has been refused.

In December, the planning inspectorate held a six-day hearing into renewable energy company RES’s appeal against the refusal, which was passed by members of the council’s planning committee in February last year.

Yesterday, it was revealed that the appeal had been dismissed, after RES posted a statement on its website, saying it was “disappointed” at the decision.

If permission had been granted, the company would have built five turbines on land at Mynydd Marchywel, between Rhos, Crynant and Cilfrew.

The news was welcomed by members of the Mynydd Marchywel Protection Group.

“It’s fabulous news,” said Gwyn Thomas, of Crynant, speaking after the Post broke the news to him.

“We have all worked so hard, but if it wasn’t for Simon Boex and Peter Hain, if it wasn’t for them pushing and pushing, we would not have got here.

“What a relief.”

Development manager at RES, Chris Jackson said: “We are surprised and saddened that the planning inspector did not uphold our request for planning permission to be granted for the Mynydd Marchywel Wind Farm.

“The only reason for refusal being defended by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council was whether the visual impact of the turbines would be acceptable.

“RES believes it had carefully designed the project to position the turbines at an acceptable distance from the nearest properties – the Planning Inspector disagrees.”

He added that the plan would have delivered “significant” social and economic benefits to the communities, including a community benefits package of up to £57,500 per year – or about £1.4m over its 25 year lifetime, with a further £1.4 million injected into the local economy in the first year of operation through the sourcing of labour, services and materials from the area.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/02/03/campaigners-relief-as-wind-farm-refused-for-mynydd-marchywel/