Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Plam slam Tory hypocrisy over Wind Farms

Plaid Cymru’s Rhodri Glyn Thomas, candidate for the Carmarthen East & Dinefwr constituency, and County Councillor for the Llanfihangel-ar-arth Ward, Linda Evans, have accused the Conservative party of “complete hypocrisy” in response to the party’s position on wind farm developments in the county.

In last week’s edition of the Carmarthen Journal, Conservative Candidate Henrietta Hensher claimed that the “Welsh Conservatives have long argued that these developments decimate local communities, economies and visual pleasure”.  Ms.Hensher went on to say that “On-shore wind farms devalue property, discourage tourism and in some cases have been linked to health issues among local residents”.

Plaid Cymru suggest the Conservative Candidate’s comments to be nothing more than political opportunism and at complete odds with the position of the Conservative Government in Westminster which is actively promoting wind farms by backing a £20,000-a-year payment for communities which have wind farms erected.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas said:

“As an Assembly Member for 12 years I can safely say that the most significant volume of representations I received were in relation to wind farms in the county.

 

“For a number of years, Cllr. Linda Evans and I have had countless meetings with constituents, landowners, utility companies and developers in which we have raised our constituent’s concerns on wind farm developments.

 

“The comments of the Conservatives in Carmarthenshire are completely hypocritical considering their party in Westminster is actively encouraging communities to have wind turbines installed by backing a £20,000 a year community sweetener.

 

“Legislation and guidance for wind farm construction is out-dated and does not consider a number of factors which affect residents surrounding wind farms sites.  My constituency colleague, Jonathan Edwards MP, have raised these concerns directly with Ministers in both the Welsh Assembly and Westminster.

 

“Decisions for large scale wind farm developments are made by the Westminster Government.  The Conservatives fought last year’s general election with a promise to abolish the undemocratic, unaccountable quango which approves large wind farm applications.  They’ve abolished the quango, but have refused to allow the Welsh Government to take responsibility for the decisions.

 

“The Conservatives would start to be a credible party in Carmarthenshire if it could explain why the Conservative-Lib Dem Government in Westminster announced only two months ago it’s £20,000 community sweetener; has refused to renew the out-dated turbine noise levels guidance; has refused to allow elected representatives in Wales take decisions of large-scale wind farms and has announced no less than eight new, unwelcome, nuclear power projects.”

 

Cllr. Linda Evans added:

“Only a few weeks ago I presented a motion to the County Council to stop wind farm developments being undertaken within 1.5km of a residential dwelling.  The local authority is now consulting on this separation distance as part of its planning policy.

 

“I whole-heartedly believe that on shore developments are not as efficient as off shore developments and I am totally opposed to the proposed developments for Llanllwni Mountain and Brechfa Forest.

 

“However, it is a big rich for the Conservatives to say proven alternatives such as tidal power should be used when it is the very same party which has ruled out such alternatives in the Severn Barrage.”

 

ENDS/DIWEDD

News Releases