Glyn Davies, Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire is warning local protesters opposing the Mid Wales Connection not to become complacent about comments made by Coalition Government Ministers that new wind farms could be refused.
He warns that these comments are based on Government onshore wind capacity targets being reached. Unfortunately, the targets include all wind farms built, all those approved, plus all those in the planning stage. His advice to local protesters is to increase their level of opposition, and not be led into believing that anything has yet changed as far as Mid Wales is concerned.
Commenting on media reports that new wind farm projects may be blocked by Coalition Government Ministers, Glyn Davies said,
“There is no doubt that pressure from MPs has led to a change of tone from Government Ministers about onshore wind. The letter signed and published by over 100 Coalition MPs, which I was involved in preparing, has had a major impact. Suddenly, Ministers have realised that the public have sussed out the sheer uselessness of onshore wind farms. They are realising that the scales have fallen from the public’s eyes. They are realising the anger and antipathy felt towards the obsession with covering the great open spaces of England and Wales with thousands of wind turbines.”
“However it would be a great mistake to think these announcements are the end of our battles in Mid Wales – or even the beginning of the end of our battles. All Ministers are saying is that if all the existing, approved and planned wind farms go ahead, the Coalition targets would be met. They told me that weeks ago. Unfortunately for Mid Wales, the Mid Wales Connection Project is in these plans. It would be a huge mistake for us to think these reports lessen the challenge before us. What we should do now is recognise the weakening of momentum towards wind farms and really jack up our opposition.”
“My personal opinion is that we should now turn our fire on National Grid, an international giant which thinks it can avoid controversy by delaying an announcement about its preferred 400kv line until after the local council elections. National grid thinks it can trample over whoever it likes. National Grid may have a programme of consultation, but not programmed to listen. We must make enough noise to make certain they hear us.”
