The First Minister of Wales has been challenged by a local AM, to distance himself from government comments recently made regarding Powys County Council’s decision to defend its planning position in a forthcoming public inquiry on wind farm developments in Mid Wales.
Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, confronted the Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones AM, during weekly Assembly questions relating to comments that were made to BBC Wales by a ‘Welsh Government spokesman’ just before Christmas. The statement indicated that Powys Council were fully aware of the financial implications when they decided to object to five large-scale wind farm developments and that the position they found themselves in was a matter of its own making.
Mr George said that the Welsh Government’s view that the Council should have taken the costs into account and approved inappropriate development because they could not meet the £2.8m costs of any appeal was an ‘affront’ to democracy. He asked Mr Jones whether he truly believed in local democracy and accountability and if he did, would he distance himself from the comments that were made in his name.
Commenting, Mr George said:
“The belligerent stance the First Minister and the Welsh Government are taking in relation to Powys Council is hampering local democracy.
“They refuse to provide any additional financial support to the Council to help it defend its position and continue to point the finger of blame at the UK Government, which considering it was Welsh Government planning policy through TAN 8 that has drawn wind farm developers to Mid Wales, is quite extraordinary.
“Now the Welsh Government is saying that if Powys County Council couldn’t afford to take the decision to appeal through a public inquiry, it should have never objected to the development schemes in the first place.
“Clearly this First Minister has absolutely no regard to local democratic accountability and is determined to push his policies through even if that means substantial additional cost to Powys residents.”
Comments were made to BBC Wales, 14 December 2012 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-20727030
"It must be remembered that the decision to object to the wind farm applications referred to is entirely down to Powys County Council.
"They were aware of the financial implications when they decided to object to these schemes."