March 20, 2015
England, Wales

Windfarm project is a total scam, says MP

By Daniel Heald | Border Counties Advertizer | 18 March 2015 | www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson joined campaigners in Oswestry last week to unite against a windfarm project, which includes plans to build electricity pylons across the county.

Dozens of protestors holding placards gathered alongside Mr Paterson in protest against the National Grid’s proposed ‘Mid Wales Connection Project’.

The project has faced fervent opposition from critics who believe the proposed overhead cable network necessary to carry power generated by the five windfarms would spoil areas of scenic countryside.

Speaking at the protest, Mr Paterson said: “The damaging implications of this project will be threefold.

“The turbines and pylons created by this development would adversely affect employment, the environment and tourism throughout the region. The project is expensive and a total scam.”

Mr Paterson has frequently criticised the expense and efficacy of wind power as an effective renewable energy source.

He said: “It is just another example of an inefficient project, whose technology peaked in the late Middle Ages.”

The Department for Energy and Climate Change has announced that a decision from an ongoing inquiry into the Powys sites of the windfarm project will be postponed until the beginning of the next Parliament.

Montgomeryshire MP, Glyn Davies said: “The decision will have huge implications for our wondrous landscape and it would have been outrageous to rush a decision through before the General Election.

“National Grid and Scottish Power Energy Networks should now suspend work on the infrastructure needed to service these windfarms. It’s not acceptable that millions of pounds of customers’ money will continue to be spent on projects until we know whether they are actually needed.”

But RenewableUK Cymru Director David Clubb said: “This additional delay to the determination of the onshore wind projects and associated infrastructure will inevitably postpone the investment, employment, training and community benefit funds which could be unlocked by these developments.

“We would have liked to see a decision ahead of the election, so the energies, enthusiasm and goodwill of industry, business and community could be harnessed to galvanise the economy of Powys as quickly as possible.”

The inquiry’s focus was on the Llanbadarn Fynydd, Llaithddu, Llandinam, Llanbrynmair, and Carnedd Wen onshore windfarm proposals.