Montgomeryshire AM, Russell George, has called on the First Minister to have a thorough, public review of Technical Advice Note 8 (TAN 8).
In the first round of questions to the First Minister of the Fourth Assembly term, Mr George asked the first Minister if he would be prepared to review TAN8 following Tuesdays protest on the steps of the Senedd.
Commenting, Russell George said:
“The environment and landscape is the most valuable asset of Wales and that was the central message of the protestors who came to the Senedd on Tuesday.
“They were telling Assembly Members that the environment was central to their wellbeing and personal quality of life and that they weren’t prepared to sacrifice those precious assets and ideals.
“The fact is that TAN 8 is a flawed guidance document that ties the hands of local authorities and imposes wind farm developments on communities that do not want it. Rather than engaging communities of interests to achieve Wales’ renewable energy ambitions, it is derisive and splitting rural communities.
“I fully recognise the immediate and pressing need to move to more sustainable energy production and the significant benefit that such a move to a greener economy could have in Wales. However, that can only be achieved if a comparable, workable balance is achieved – that means a broader renewable mix, not the fixation on one technology.
“I don’t understand how the Welsh Government can proceed with long-term policy objectives on a strategy that was formulated and produced 6 years ago.
“There is an urgent need for TAN 8 to be thoroughly reviewed and redrafted, so that the over-reliance on wind power is replaced by a full range of alternative energy sources.”
