Craig Williams & Russell George, MP & MS for Montgomeryshire, are encouraging Montgomeryshire residents to engage with a public consultation into new wind farm and pylon proposals, near to Llanerfyl, Cefn Coch and the Vyrnwy Valley.
Bute Energy have today opened a public consultation period for their proposed Llyn Lort Energy Park, to be located southwest of Llanerfyl and west of Cefn Coch. The plans will include the erection of up to 25 large wind turbines. With no current National Grid infrastructure capable of collecting and distributing generated power, the proposals also include plans by Green GEN Cymru for a substation, connecting the energy parks through large lattice pylons and a new 132 kv overhead line through the Vyrnwy Valley. This would be linked to the main grid connection in Shropshire.
This initial public consultation period runs until 18th October, with local community’s views on the proposals invited. Bute Energy will be holding public exhibitions within Montgomeryshire for Llyn Lort Energy Park, including:
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- Saturday 23 September, 11am–4pm: Llanfair Caereinion Public Hall & Institute
- Monday 25 September, 3.30pm–7.30pm: Carno Community Centre
- Tuesday 26 September, 3pm–7pm: Cefn Coch Inn, Cefn Coch
Green GEN Cymru will also be holding exhibitions regarding the Vyrnwy Frankton Connection at:
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- Friday 22 September, 2pm-7pm: Llanymynech Village Hall
- Saturday 23 September, 11am–4pm: Llanfair Caereinion Public Hall & Institute
- Wednesday 27th September, 2pm-7pm: Llansantffraid Community Centre
- Friday 29th September, 3pm-7pm: Meifod Village Hall
They will also be holding Webinars on Friday 15th September (1pm-2pm) and Monday 18th September (7pm-8pm). Registration for these can be accessed at www.greengenvyrnwyfrankton.com
Russell George MS said:
“Proposals such as this for Llyn Lort and the associated grid connection within the Vyrnwy Valley must ensure they have the support of local communities.
“Montgomeryshire well remembers the previous large-scale wind farm proposals of a decade ago, where our communities reacted in force against the total lack of consideration and empathy for residents and landscapes shown by developers. It is vital that renewable energy companies, alongside the National Grid, learn the lessons from previous projects and ensure that they take the communities with them, rather than imposing projects upon Mid Wales.
“Sometimes it is said that these kinds of proposals are a done deal, but this was not the case a decade ago when the community came out in force to raise their strong opposition, so I therefore strongly urge residents to attend the public consultations.
Commenting on the opening of the public consultation, Craig Williams MP said:
“Our concern has always been that the grid is already at capacity. The industrialisation of our landscape with large-scale pylons criss-crossing our hills and valleys is very worrying. It is a huge concern to many people across Mid Wales and I will be meeting with the Montgomeryshire Against Pylons group to discuss next steps.
“Bute Energy’s plans for a grid connection specifically refer to an overhead as opposed to underground connection. When energy companies come forward with proposals such as these, it is absolutely essential that communities have their say regarding the impact upon local residents, environment, landscape and heritage, as well as the technical plans for a grid connection route.
“When we have previously been faced with the prospect of large-scale wind farms, Montgomeryshire has come out in force to ensure their views and needs are heard. I would encourage everyone to do the same now and engage with this public consultation period.”
