Fears over big wind farm

Green-thinking farmers have unveiled plans for a massive wind farm in Mid Wales. But the scheme has concerned people living nearby, who are worried about the sheer size of it.

Awel Newydd, a joint venture between North Wales builders RDC Developments and a group of 13 farmers, called Tirgwynt, wants to build 22 wind turbines, up to 116m high, on 12 hectares of land at Mynydd yr Hendre, near Carno.

But the project could face opposition when the application is formally registered and public consultation begins.

Dan Munford, an anti-wind farm campaigner, said: "The whole world is concerned about global warming and it's a big issue.

"Wind farms are not consistent with the resolution of that problem in any respect.

"They require back-up power stations for when the wind is not blowing and they cause considerable environmental damage when they go up.

"I am pretty alarmed at the scale of this proposed site - we are talking about Blackpool Tower dimensions.

"If you live near one of these big wind farms it can destroy the value of your house. If you have a natural landscape as beautiful as this, you have to preserve it."

Awel Newydd says it has spent more than two years carrying out detailed environmental studies and consulting with local people. David Lloyd, Awel Newydd spokesman, said: "The call for the production of clean, renewable and sustainable energy gave a group of us the opportunity to utilise our land for that purpose."