Dear Resident, July 2014
The Mid Wales (Powys) Conjoined Wind Farm Inquiry has now come to an end. I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere thanks to all those who attended, wrote in and spoke at the inquiry. The inspector can be left in no doubt as to the strength of feeling and passion of Montgomeryshire people on this issue. I am particularly grateful to the Alliance for all of their work supporting and coordinating campaigners and for spreading the message and keeping people informed. Montgomeryshire could not have equipped itself better.
I recently wrote to the Inspector with some concluding remarks on the applications. You can read that letter here.
I’m sure many of you will have noted the comments by our MP, Glyn Davies. In February, Glyn secured a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament on the Mid Wales Connection Project. It was attended by MPs whose constituencies would be affected by similar projects and others who wanted to support Glyn in the campaign. I have included some extracts over the page, and you can read the full debate online by going to www.tinyurl.com/MWConnectionDebate.
Earlier this year, in January, I met with Prime Minister David Cameron and spoke with him about the threat facing Montgomeryshire and I know that Glyn regularly raises the issue with him. He is kept well briefed on the issue and has noticed the strong feelings locally.
Mr Fallon acknowledged the arguments put forward in the Westminster Hall debate. The tide is turning on wind energy policy. We can see these changes in a recent letter from Laurence Mann, one of the Prime Minister’s closest advisors, in response to a letter from Montgomeryshire Against Pylons about Conservative wind farm policy ahead of next years general election, which has three main points:
- There will be no further wind farm subsidies beyond those already planned
- Onshore wind planning applications will be made locally and not swept into a national infrastructure
- Planning policy will be strengthened to give greater protection to valued landscape, heritage and local concerns.
This is incredibly positive news. Montgomeryshire people have made their voices heard on the street, in the Council chamber, in the Assembly and in Parliament; and they are being listened to. All that is left for me is to reiterate my gratitude for all of your efforts and to encourage you to keep campaigning. We await the outcome of the Inquiry, which is expected to report its findings to the Secretary of State by the end of September.
May I also thank all who completed my survey on wind energy. I will publish the results shortly.
Kind Regards
Russell George