Brecon and Radnorshire MP Fay Jones joined hundreds of residents in voicing concerns about plans to build a 60kilometre stretch of pylons across the constituency.
Around 400 people attended the meeting on the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd. The meeting, which took place last Thursday, was hosted by the Countryside Alliance to discuss plans put forward by Scottish firm Bute Energy. The scheme – called Nant Mithil – would see 36 wind turbines erected in the Radnor Forest. The turbines would be over 220metres high – two thirds of the height of the Eiffel Tower.
Alongside the turbines, Bute Energy plans to create a network of electricity pylons stretching from Crossgates above Llandrindod Wells, across the Epynt and down towards Carmarthen.
During the meeting, residents heard from the Campaign to Protect Rural Wales who advised on how to create a steering group to campaign against the plans. CPRW, along with the Countryside Alliance, believes that if the wind farm must go ahead, the accompanying pylons and cables must be buried to avoid spoiling the landscape.
Since the meeting, Bute Energy have opened the plans to public consultation. Two meetings will take place in the constituency:
- Thursday 23 March, 2pm to 7:30pm – Montgomery Pavilion, Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, LD2 3SY
- Tuesday 28 March, 2pm to 7:30pm – Penybont District Community Centre, Penybont, nr Llandrindod Wells LD1 5UA
A copy of the plans and ways in which to contribute is at: https://www.greengentowyusk.com/index.php
Ms Jones, who travelled back from London specifically to attend the meeting, was eager to hear all opinions on the matter. In her comments to the meeting, Ms Jones said: “I am deeply concerned that Radnorshire is consistently looked at as attractive to energy firms. Radnorshire should not have to shoulder the burden of our energy challenge.
Nobody would dispute that we need to look at alternative solutions, but carpeting our outstanding countryside – right through the heart of Wales – with turbines and pylons is not the answer. When we need our land for food production, environmental delivery and for local communities to grow and thrive, we ought to be looking at other options including nuclear and tidal first.
The height of the proposed for the Nant Mithil Energy Park is deeply worrying. At 220m, this is double the height of the Hendy wind farm.
Ms Jones particularly agreed with one lady who told the meeting that farmers were being asked to plant trees and rewild, while the Welsh Labour Government allows the mass industrialisation of the countryside. This should trouble all of us.
Ms Jones urged as many of her constituents as possible to engage with the consultation:
“I am really pleased that a steering group has been formed after last week’s meeting. I look forward to doing whatever I can to work with them to oppose these pylons. It is now up to everyone to make their views known and respond to Bute Energy’s consultation. ”
