Commenting on the Welsh Labour Government’s statement on its renewable energy guidance, TAN 8, Russell George, Shadow Minister for the Environment and AM for Montgomeryshire, said:
“We welcome that Ministers have finally given in to the strength of public opinion on windfarm developments.
“This shows what can be achieved when communities come together.
“However, the First Minister’s statement that the capacity of areas designated for windfarm development in TAN 8 should be seen as upper limits is totally at odds with the guidance he developed and supported as Environment Minister in 2005.
“It was short-sighted of Carwyn Jones, as the Minister who introduced TAN 8, not to anticipate the associated pylons and electricity substations which would be needed to support such large scale windfarm developments.
“The First Minister should now concede that TAN 8, the guidance he is responsible for, is not fit for purpose and is in need of an urgent and thorough review.
“Ministers need to take action to revise their planning guidance to guarantee the protection of our natural environment to avoid the accusation of making hollow pronouncements.”
