Mynydd Maen Wind Farm

Is Torfaen Borough Council Letting Us Down?

In 2019 various organisations were consulted about the Draft National Development Framework (NDF).

The three local councils, Torfaen, Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent returned Consultation Response Forms, (as did other Welsh Councils).

Torfaen’s response generally was far less detailed and in-depth than the other two councils, in my opinion but if we just look at the section on renewable energy including wind farms including Mynydd Maen.

Of concern to this article is the inclusion of Pre Assessed areas with a presumption of allowing large scale wind farms. 

Area 10 falls partly within  Torfaen and comes very close to the western side of Cwmbran and actually borders Blaen Bran Community Woodland.
Yet in 2019 Torfaen CBC had “NO OPINION” on the plans to pave the way for large scale wind farms close to houses in the borough!

Here are our three local councils responses to Item 7 (sometimes 6) of the  was “Renewable Energy and District Heat networks (policies 10-15)

 

So Caerphilly CBC strongly disagreed with Item 7 on Large Scale Wind Farms and their detailed response was…

Significant objections are raised in respect of the NDFs policy in respect of renewable energy
generation by solar and wind generation. The identification of Priority Areas (identified at
national level) means there is essentially almost permitted development for large scale
generation proposals, and thus a presumed acceptance of potentially catastrophic landscape
change as part of the policy. The designation of these areas pays no regard to smaller areas of
high quality landscape and the proposed process means that all that needs to be demonstrated
is that adverse impact has been minimised (which could still be a very high level of impact).

It seems completely unreasonable that National Parks have been omitted from the Priority
Areas, given they generate need for energy as well as the other areas included within them. The
rational and methodologies used to identify National Parks are now significantly outdated and
these areas contain some of the best sites for renewable energy generation. The proposals
bring far more areas of Caerphilly into energy field than was previously the case and indeed
does not target those areas where we consider generation acceptable. This would result in
significant landscape impact and is strongly opposed.

The proposals also seem to rule out the aspirations for the HoV corridor for the creation of an
energy belt as part of its economic development aspirations.

Further to this proposed generation schemes outside of the Priority Areas utilise exactly the
same criteria that developments within the Priority Areas need to address. This seems at odds
to the principle of the presumption in favour within Priority Areas, as both schemes are
considered against the same criteria.

The NDF only addresses Large Scale developments, which means that local authorities remain
the arbiters of small scale developments. Given that Priority Areas may not be identified in
LDPs (as there is no requirement for them to do so) small scale schemes may be considered far
more stringently than large scale developments, which is wholly inappropriate.

Whilst the encouragement for district heating networks proposals is welcomed, there is concern over the impacts such a requirement may have on developments. There are concerns that 100 dwelling developments may not be able withstand the costs of providing such networks. Even more concern regarding the statement that smaller developments could also realise district heating networks.

There is a complete lack of consideration of both tidal and ott shore generation, both of which
could make significant contributions in terms of energy generation, whilst having less landscape impact than large scale onshore developments.

A quite detailed, well thought out reply, don’t you agree?   next…..

 

So Blaenau Gwent CBC strongly disagreed with Item 7 on Large Scale Wind Farms and their detailed response was…

Significant objections are raised in respect of the NDFs policy in respect of renewable energy generation by solar and wind generation. The identification of Priority Areas (identified at national level) means there is essentially almost permitted development for large scale generation proposals, and thus a presumed acceptance of major landscape change as part of the policy. The designation of these areas pays no regard to smaller areas of high quality landscape and the proposed process means that all that needs to be demonstrated is that adverse impact has been minimised (which could still be a very high level of impact).

The priority area includes a large part of Blaenau Gwent and this would result in significant landscape impact and is strongly opposed.

Whilst the encouragement for district heating networks proposals is welcomed and there is
recognition that in principle, they are supported wherever they are viable it is disappointing to see that Ebbw Vale is not referenced given previous and existing work being undertaken to develop District Heat Networks.

An alternative approach to renewable energy is consideration of both tidal and off shore generation,  both of which could make significant contributions in terms of energy generation, whilst having less  landscape impact than large scale onshore developments.

Again a considered response.

Now to Torfaen….

and that’s it!

NO OPINION!

Torfaen Council in 2019 had NO OPINION on the prospect, even encouragement of large scale wind developments within their boundaries, larger than anything we have seen in the past and on (almost) every available hillside in the South Wales Valleys.

No Opinion or couldn’t be bothered to even think about it?

Who was involved in deciding that Torfaen had No Opinion on this matter! Was it just the planning officer involved, the leader of the council or councillors local to the Pre Assessed area boundaries? Did none of these have any opinions on the prospect of massive wind turbines that are going to destroy a prime mountain top, affect many peoples lives and destroy the beauty of our mountains?

I eagerly await the publication of Torfaen’s response to the Pre-Planning Documents for The Mynydd Maen Wind Farm,  and see if in any way they have redeemed themselves.

Information on the responses referred to come from here
https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/consultations/2020-03/national-development-framework-responses-local-government.zip

The full casework  and the results of the 2019 consultation on the Draft National Development Framework can be found here
https://www.gov.wales/draft-national-development-framework

For clarity the Draft National Development Framework once amended became  Future Wales – The National Plan 2040.

This map shows the multitude of wind farm projects currently planned for the hills of South Wales