| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Plans for ‘mega’ wind turbines at rural beauty spot in North Wales have been dropped
Credit: By Owen Hughes, Business correspondent | 6 JUL 2023 | dailypost.co.uk ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
An energy firm has dropped plans for giant wind turbines in a rural beauty spot in North Wales. Cardiff-based Bute Energy wanted to build an “energy park” on the hills between Betws yn Rhos, Llangernyw and Llanfair TH.
Views over the countryside surrounding Moelfre Uchaf
There was huge concern locally about the proposals with claims the tip heights could be taller than the 207-metre Great Orme, Llandudno – making them amongst the largest ever built onshore. Each turbine would have a rotor diameter slightly longer than the Blackpool Tower is tall.
Concerned villagers in Conwy feared the mega turbines would not only blight their own community but also swathes of the countryside across Wales – impacting on places like Eryri ( Snowdonia ).
But now Bute managing director Stuart George has written to Clwyd West MP David Jones to tell him they will not proceed with the development. The decision was based on “technical studies” and “feasibility assessments”.
He said he expected that the decision would be welcomed by a number of constituents but that it was a “disappointment” for the landowners they had been working with.
The firm added that other developments were moving forward – including the proposed 12 turbine Moel Chwa energy park in Denbighshire.
They said they planned to invest circa £3bn by the end of the decade that will deliver 25% of the green energy target set by Welsh Government to reach net zero in Wales.
MP Mr Jones said: “This is excellent news for the residents of Llanfair TH and the surrounding areas. The turbines proposed by the developers would have had a massively detrimental impact on a particularly scenic area and the cancellation of the project is an enormous relief.”
Clwyd West MS Darren Millar said: “I am delighted that Bute Energy has finally seen sense and withdrawn its proposals for a wind farm in Moelfre Uchaf. The proposals for monstrous turbines of up to 250 metres in height would have been devastating for the area, ruining lives and livelihoods, and had a significant and detrimental impact on the North Wales landscape.
“Wind farms should only be constructed in places where they enjoy community support – this location isn’t one of them.”
He added: “We are making huge progress with offshore renewables so the Welsh Government should review its planning policy for onshore in light of that fact.”
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
| Wind Watch relies entirely on User Funding |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=106149 ]
| Tag: Victories |
