Mid Wales pylons and turbines 'worst piece of planning ever'

Plans which could see a massive substation and huge pylons built across rolling countryside have today been branded the "worst piece of planning to ever impact on Mid Wales".

Richard Bonfield, from Kerry, near Newtown, and a member of the STOP and HALT groups fighting the plans by the National Grid, said the proposals would have "enormous environmental impacts" on villages.

He claimed each turbine would be the equivalent of the height of the London Eye, and would require a concrete pad the size of an Olympic swimming pool.

He also claimed wind turbines were an ineffective way to produce power.

He said: "The national UK 2010 energy statistics for onshore windfarm generation were released by the Department of Climate Control (DECC) on March 31.

"Across the UK nationally - the capacity fell from 28 per cent to 21.4 per cent despite an overall increase of 14 per cent in new turbines coming on stream in 2010.

"Wales failed miserably reducing from 23.4 per cent to under 18 per cent capacity with one windfarm in the Carno area only producing 15 per cent.

"The current proposals from National Grid are a result of possibly the worst piece of planning to ever impact on Mid Wales.

"We estimate that 40 per cent of Mid Wales will be permanently blighted unless we take action now."