Energy Minister gives Powys a nudge

 

In the letter, which you can download below, Mr Hendry has written to Powys’ Specialist Services Manager to ask about the progress of six applications for wind farms in Mid Wales and urged him to provide an indication of “when it may be possible for Powys CC to provide its response”.

 

The letter came to light at last week’s meeting between Powys chiefs and town and community councils. Montgomeryshire has united against plans to construct a multi-billion pound energy project in the heart of Wales and the Minister’s direct involvement had caused some cause for concern.

 

But Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies has called for calm. He has read the letter this morning and considered it as a “routine” communication from a Minister to a planning authority.

 

“The letter is merely checking on the progress of the applications and is by no means influencing or favouring what the decisions should be,” said Mr Davies. “It is a fairly standard enquiry as to the progress of the application and from a personal prospective it is very helpful and I am not in the least bit worried.

 

“I was in fact very encouraged by the response from the Minister at our debate in Westminster last week and I will be meeting him soon.”

 

The Coalition Government last week signed a new Green Energy Bill which some feared would ring the death knell for the campaign to stop a much-hated multi-billion pound energy project earmarked for Montgomeryshire. The shire is now represented at both Westminster and Cardiff by Conservatives but both Mr Davies and AM, Russell George, have vowed to step up their fights with Mr Davies adding that “we will do everything we can to stop it”.

 

On Tuesday, hundreds of campaigners take their fight to the door of the Welsh Assembly with a rally on the steps of the Senedd led by Mr Davies and Mr George as well as Sian Lloyd, the TV celebrity who lives close to Newtown.

 

The rally starts at noon and is expected to continue through to 1.30pm.