November 11, 2015
Wales

Council votes to oppose 67-metre wind turbine

Cambrian News | 11 November 2015 | www.cambrian-news.co.uk

A controversial wind turbine application has received an overwhelming thumbs-down from Cardigan town councillors who say the planned 67-metre structure would be too high and unacceptably close to homes in Caemorgan Road.

Plans for the turbine, on land owned by farmer Richard Jones, at Oernant, just north of Cardigan, have split public opinion, with supporters arguing there would be far-reaching benefits for the town.

But opponents say such a structure would dominate the Cardigan skyline and could lead to a flood of similar applications.

Last week, town councillors voted 7-1 against the application, whilst confirming they supported the notion­ of renewable emergy in principle.

“I’m putting myself in the position of the residents and I just think 67 metres is out of all reason,” Cllr Graham Evans told colleagues.

“The height of this turbine would be three-quarters the length of a 100m race at the Olympics and for locals to have this two fields from their back doors is just not acceptable to me.”

Cllr Mark Cole said greater detail on possible community benefits had never been made available.

“The community benefit is not as firm as I initially thought and we need to have more details,” he said.

The proposal, by Cardigan Community Energy, (part of the Awel Deg/Fair Wind co-operative), has been the source of much disagreement since it was unveiled last June.

A public exhibition at Cardigan Guildhall failed to convince det­ractors and led to the formation of NOWT – the No Oernant Wind Turbine opposition group.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/11/11/council-votes-to-oppose-67-metre-wind-turbine/