The threat to Montgomeryshire

After accompanying Joyce Watson in Welshpool this morning, we headed over to Abermule where I wanted to meet some residents who are not only bitterly opposed to the proposed windfarm ‘hub’ being built there, but who are genuinely concerned for the health of the village.

We all want to see Wales a better place to live; we all want to see Wales less dependent on fossil fuels and moving to renewable energy sources. The proposed location for windfarms and ‘hub’ do not tick any of the right boxes for me. Miles of 56 metre pylons with a 16 metre footprints spread across Montgomeryshire does not make Wales a better place to live in. Locating those pylons near schools, homes and communities does not make Wales a better place to live in. Allowing people to buy homes then threatening to drop 35% off the value of them and dicing with negative equity does not make Wales a better place to live in. Joyce and I also viewed the proposed ‘hub’ site with local residents and were shocked by the proximity to newly built homes.

Whoever the people of Montgomeryshire honour on May 5th will need to hit the ground running, if they genuinely care about this situation developing to the point where the argument is lost before the fight has begun. I am concerned that the consultation is taking place in a time when the Assembly is in recess and representation is not readily available. We must support those who work to resist the proposals, both in Abermule and at the other proposed 'hub' site in Cefn Coch, as well as the thousands potentially affected along National Grid's pylon corridors. We also need to ensure that in the very near future TAN 8 or Technical Advice Note 8 concerning Renewable Energy is reviewed and ensured to serve the people of Wales in a manner that is sensitive, practical and in line with technical developments.


nick