Newtown windfarm will be built
Friday 13th August 2010, 1:58PM BST.
A controversial 12 turbine windfarm will be built in Mid Wales in the next few years - despite opposition from protesters.
Planners gave the go-ahead for the Tirgwynt windfarm, near Carno, Newtown, despite the fears of campaigners who say it will have a detrimental effect on the county’s roads.
More than 50 people – both for and against the plans – turned up to a meeting of Powys County Council’s planning committee yesterday.
They included flag and banner-waving protesters Councillor Estelle Bleivas, the Mayor of Welshpool, and the Newtown Mayor Councillor Joy Jones.
Councillor Bleivas today said she was calling for a public inquiry into the plans, saying large lorries needed to transport the parts could damage buildings in Welshpool.
Developers Awel Newydd said the turbines would be 80 metres (262ft) tall and generate enough to power the equivalent of hundreds of homes.
At the meeting Steve Packer, the county council’s case officer for the application, said it would also involve underground electricity cable work and said it was recommended for approval subject, to a number of conditions.
He said as one of the conditions the development should be up and running within five years and permission for a period of 25 years be given from the date electricity is first connected to the grid.
He added: “The scheme has been reduced from 22 turbines to 12, four having been removed specifically in relation to landscape impacts and the remainder due to the proximity to curlew nests.”
Speaking at the meeting Robert Robinson, Welshpool Town Council clerk, said the road network to support such a scheme had been grossly underestimated.
Councillors voted in favour of the scheme by seven to two.
By Andrew Morris
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excellent news
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bring on the NiMBYs – obviosly they dont use electricity then ?
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Great news. Really, these protesters have nothing to protest about.
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brilliant news just what this area needs proper jobs well paid jobs in engineering
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What a blight on the landscape.
Recent surveys have indicated these wind farms produce far less electricity that what they were supposed to. WHich means they are a waste of money and inefficient
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what recent surveys have you read brian? i propose you are making this up, show me some evidence to support your opinion, some facts
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What a waste of money, Tax payers money subsidising the construction and running of these windfarms, so that the private companies get bigger profits. Everybody knows that windfarms only produce power for around a third of their life. Everybody also know that they are only being built, to say to, europe that we are doing our bit.
If the wind is too weak they don’t work, if it is too strong the blades are feathered so they turn off to prevent damage.
The conventional power stations still need to have their turbines spinning in case the wind does not blow, which means lots of fuel being burn’t for no purpose other than to back up these monstrosities popping up all over our, one green and pleasant land.
As for local jobs, its a joke, how many wind turbine experts are in the Newtown area. The workers will be shipped in from elsewhare.
Build more Nuclear power stations on existing sites to cater for our energy needs, not these eyesores.
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every body knows? I think youre wrong rob, prove it, show us the evidence, and i dont mean daily mail articles i mean scientific studies
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Rob, it’s all very well saying build nuclear power stations on existing sites, but I bet you don’t live near one. You don’t seem to know much about wind power, but you come across as a nimby who just doesn’t like the look of wind turbines.
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horay, i love wind, visit yes 2 wind dot com
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excellent thats what we need more of these cost effective and proven renewable energy solutions, they are a wonder of modern engineering and clearly the main answer to the long term energy needs of the UK. How lucky Wales is to be blessed with such resources in the post coal age it will ensure continued propserity for people in this area at a time when our rivals are building more of these each month than we do in a year I hope we can continue to see more developments like this in the coming years for the sake of the planet and keeping the lights on
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I live near Sarn only round the corner from this and i think its brilliant news for the area. young people like me want to live in powys but we want more high quality jobs with higher pay packets that local bar/farming work. Hopefull powys will get more and more of these over time and become a real power house, perhaps once i finish my engineering degree who knows i may be able to stay in powys long term rather than emigrate to spain or saudi for work. I think its good for businesses too it will help to attract inward investment into Powys too.
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Asif asks Rob for evidence of the uselessness of windmills.
Allow me to be of assistance, Asif. The following was taken from a report written by the Norwegian government about Denmark’s wind farms from an objective position. The Danish government have a vested interest in making their huge investment look worthwhile, despite 6000 turbines supplying only 3.3% of Denmark’s electricity:
http://www.aweo.org/problemwithwind.html
http://www.yarrampa.customer.netspace.net.au/Windpower-West-Denmark.doc
The latter link has a huge list of verifiable sources at the bottom supporting the former.
HTH.
:-)
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good stuff, i would happily change my electricity supplier to them if it helps encourage more of these wonderful machines to be built locally
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Whenever I pass wind farms in England, or Wales, they don’t seem to be turning, so what do they produce?
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hey mate they produce electricity duh!!!
think about it, because its not windy where you are do you think the wind has stopped
hahahahahahaah
go back to school and learn geography duh!!
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brilliant, doesnt mind it here i dont, it will look real tidy and we need cheap energy out here the price of oil has gone crazy in the last few years
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