December 4, 2015
Wales

Plans for another controversial wind farm in North Wales have been dropped

Staff Reporter | News North Wales | 04 December 2015 | www.newsnorthwales.co.uk

Plans for another North Wales windfarm linked to a controversial overhead cable system have been dropped.

In August it was announced that Vattenfall Wind Power Limited no longer planned to go ahead with their proposal for a windfarm at Nant Bach near Clocaenog Forest.

Now Melin Derwydd Limited have abandoned their plans for 10 turbines at Derwydd Bach near Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, which leaves only two remaining schemes from the original group of four.

Despite the news SP Manweb are going ahead with highly controversial proposal for 17 miles of overhead cables linking the two remainingnsites with a sub-station at Glascoed, near St Asaph.

The planning inspectorate is currently carrying out a lengthy examination of the proposals which are opposed by landowners, environmentalists, local authorities and politicians.

News of the withdrawal of the Derwydd Bach scheme came in a letter to the inspectorate from Steven Edwards, of SP Manweb’s land and planning department.

The capacity of the two remaining schemes – at Clocaenog Forest by RWE Innogy UK and at Llyn Brenig by Brenig Wind Ltd – accounts for 73.5% of the original contracted generation of the four and Mr Edwards saysd that SP Manweb is still required to carry out the same assessment as when Vattenfall withdrew.

“SP Manweb remains under a contractual duty, and a statutory duty, to provide a connection to two windfarms (and) considers that the proposed development is still required,” he said.

The cost of connection will now be met by the two remaining companies, both of whom have confirmed their commitment to the project.

Meanwhile Denbighshire councillors have been told to reconsider their decision to turn down plans for a 16-turbine windfarm to the east of Llyn Brenig – or face a possible claim for costs.

In November the planning committee rejected by 16 votes to three the advice of officers that the scheme should be allowed, supporting the view of local councillor Joe Welch that the visual impact and noise disturbance would be too great.

But in a report to next week’s planning committee the head of planning and public protection Graham Boase says that officers found it difficult to draw up sound factual reasons for refusal.

“The consequence is that the council would, in the officers’ opinion, be put at significant risk should an appeal be lodged against the refusal,” he says.

The members are therefore being asked to reassess the application.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/12/04/plans-for-another-controversial-wind-farm-in-north-wales-have-been-dropped/