January 5, 2019
Wales

Heart-in-mouth moment woman falls in path of oncoming cement lorry at wind farm protest

By Robert Harries | Wales Online | 4 Jan 2019 | www.walesonline.co.uk

Footage has emerged of a woman falling before a moving concrete lorry at a wind farm protest in mid Wales.

Protestors had gathered at Llandegley in Powys to make their feelings known about plans to press ahead with the construction of a controversial wind farm.

In the footage, captured on a mobile phone, protestors can be seen standing in the way of a large lorry as it makes its way down a track at the Hendy Wind Farm site.

At one point, a woman appears to fall in the path of the lorry, before rolling out the way as it bears down on her.

Screams can be heard as the lorry stops just before it reaches her, then continues once she is out of the way.

The seven-turbine scheme at the site, near Llandrindod Wells, put forward by Hendy Wind Farm Ltd, was rejected by Powys Council in 2017 after objections that it would blot what is regarded as a beauty spot.

However, the Welsh Government eventually gave the scheme the go-ahead last year after the cabinet secretary for energy, planning and rural affairs, Lesley Griffiths AM, said the benefits of renewable energy outweighed other potential impacts of the scheme.

Among those in attendance at the protest were UKIP AM Neil Hamilton and his wife Christine Hamilton.

Mrs Hamilton called what happened an “appalling incident”.

She shared the video on social media which triggered a further debate about the protest and the wind farm proposals themselves.

Police have confirmed they are looking into the matter and are monitoring the situation at the site.

A spokeswoman for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “We are aware of a video clip circulating on social media of an incident at Hendy Wind Farm on December 3, 2019.

“Officers are looking into the matter and continue to monitor the situation to facilitate a lawful protest at the site.”

Hendy Wind Farm Ltd has been approached for comment.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/01/05/heart-in-mouth-moment-woman-falls-in-path-of-oncoming-cement-lorry-at-wind-farm-protest/