Protesters say power plans are a “shambles”

Campaigners against the “lunatic destruction” of the Montgomeryshire countryside are to step up their protests against a massive power project that will change the area’s skyline forever.

 

Power chiefs are eying Montgomeryshire with a view to erecting hundreds of wind turbines the height of the London Eye together with infrastructure to include a 20-acre power station in Abermule and miles of power cables that will criss-cross the Severn Valley.

 

It has caused outrage, with residents and local politicians in opposition, and two campaigning groups – HALT and STOP – have joined hands to unite their action against the plans which have been roundly criticised as ineffective in solving the country’s clean energy problem.

 

Following a public meeting in Dolfor on Friday night, MP Glyn Davies said: “The meeting was held to consider the rape of Montgomeryshire's landscape by wind turbines, power cables and a huge substation. But this has not just arisen, it started back in 2005 when the then Assembly Government published planning guidance (Tan 8) which could lead inevitably to the lunatic destruction of our Mid Wales landscape.”

 

Protesters say that the TAN 8 proposal was exposed as a total shambles at the meeting and have called for a public enquiry into how it was passed.

 

“We have a chance to stop the total destruction of this part of Mid Wales,” said Richard Bonfield, a spokesperson for HALT. “We will fight these proposals every inch of the way, especially the part within TAN 8 which covers the iconic Kerry Ridgeway. People must remember that no windfarm within the area, including the upgrading of the existing Llandinam windfarm, has yet to receive planning so it is now that your voice must be heard. It is NOT too late.”

 

STOP spokesperson Michele Lloyd added: “There is a real groundswell of support. People are starting to realise just how destructive these proposals are to the countryside and their way of life.

 

“Celt Power’s stubborn insistence on continuing to seek planning permission for this line, despite being able to see the bigger picture now, prove that it’s all about money. They are dismissing any arguments to protect our irreplaceable high value landscape, which will be permanently blighted by this unnecessary line.”

 

This weekend, local homes received an extensive public relations pack from the power developers outlining all the plans which they describe as “critical to overcome the UK’s potential energy shortfall in the future”.

 

 

STOP was formed in 2008 in objection to SP Manweb’s proposals to build a 132kV double wooden pole line (14m high) across open countryside between Llandinam and Welshpool Substation. It is proposed to serve Celt Power’s Llandinam Wind Farm, which is still awaiting planning permission for repowering.

Email: stopgroup999@gmail.com

A new protest group to lead the local objection to the windfarm proposals on the Kerry Ridgeway and nearby hills.

Email: 999Halt@gmail.com