I have been very vocal in my opposition to the proposed Energy Parks of Nant Mithil, Bryn Gilwern, Aberedw, and the associated 60-mile Pylon distribution route. More recent is the proposal for Banc Y Felin at Erwood/Upper Chapel. Taken together, this could mean up to 92 wind turbines and this will overwhelm our area, damage pristine upland areas rich in peat, destroy local ecosystems and harm rare species like the curlew, deter visitors and tourists to the area on which many jobs and businesses rely on their trade.
I have, and will continue, to support small scale applications for wind turbines e.g. by family farms if they wish to erect a wind turbine for their own needs or specifically for a community use, but not these large scale industrial wind farms and associated pylon route through Mid Wales that will decimate our beautiful area.
The planning applications will not follow conventional planning processes, as it is classed as a development of national significance (DNS). It will be run by Planning Inspectorate Wales (PEDW) with a Welsh Government Minister having the final say. We have the nearby Hendy Wind Farm as an example of how Welsh Government push ahead with these plans regardless of local opposition and refusals. When the application goes for formal consent, there will be a short 5 week window in which to submit comments to PEDW. So be ready! We have a fight on our hands but from what I have heard to date, all communities from Radnorshire to Carmarthenshire are speaking as a united voice, loudly and clearly saying no to these development and the pylons. Welsh Labour Government have a duty to listen to these voices.
If the Energy Park proposals get the go ahead, I will be calling for the power to be exported out via underground cabling. A 60-mile swathe of pylons to Pont Abraham will radically change our landscape and have a hugely detrimental effect on tourism and hospitality businesses, on farming and our landscape and the wider rural economy. We are already seeing prospective house sales falling through and house prices plummeting because of the proposed pylon line and wind turbines. It is not just visual impact, there are concerns around safety, health implications, as well as the inevitable damage to local wildlife and habitat. This is not a National Grid line, this will be seperate, owned by a private company Green Gen Cymru.
Green Gen Cymru are already citing cost as the reason why the pylons have to be overground. This runs contrary to Planning Policy Wales where the presumption should be underground. Their latest costings put undergrounding as x5 times more expensive as overground and therefore a reason to have pylons. In my mind, they should not start any project with a presumption that they cannot comply with Planning Policy Wales requirements. I have consistently called for transparency and declarations of interest be made to highlight the connections between Welsh Government members and these international developers.
We need to look at all types of renewable energy. Offshore should be the first preference. I would like to see more hydro and tidal schemes being explored. Small scale nuclear is an option we should be exploring, so that when the wind does not blow, the sun does not shine, we have a back up.
Please be assured I will be raising this at every opportunity in the Senedd to make sure the communities voice is heard and to ensure the correct process is followed during this public consultation period. It was a bitter blow to lose Fay Jones as our MP as she has done so much on this. I am yet to hear publicly what David Chadwick, the new Liberal Democrat MP’s position is on this. His party manifesto says they will "accelerate the deployment of solar and wind power”.
Brecon & Radnorshire is my home, and I will fight to protect its landscape, and its communities and its wonderful people.