Mark Isherwood
North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has put forward objections to the proposed Clocaenog Forest wind farm at this afternoon’s Open Hearing on the plans.
Speaking at the hearing, which was held at Canolfan Cae Cymro Community Centre, Clawddnewydd, Ruthin, Mr Isherwood emphasised the impact the development would have on the local area and its residents.
He said:
“My priority is the wellbeing of my constituents and the potential impact of the proposals – including noise, visual, tranquillity, water supply, construction disruption, economic and property values – on a significant local population.
“The Welsh Government’s ‘Draft Technical Advice Note (TAN) 8 Renewable Energy Consultation’ included within ‘the criteria used to determine the location and extent of the draft strategic search areas’ the statement ‘Contains significant areas with very few isolated dwellings’.
“I understand, however, that 78 households located within two kilometres of the proposed turbines rely on private water supplies and that in excess of 900 people are resident within the villages in the immediate vicinity of the Clocaenog Forest Strategic Search Area.
“It is not, therefore, a remote isolated, hill top location, but the location of a living community of people potentially affected by the proposals.
“However, it is understood that the maps within the Environmental Impact Assessment submitted by the developer exclude some local villages and that the names of the local villages shown cannot be read.”
He added: “The impact of the proposals also extends beyond local residents, to a large number of people from North Wales, North West England and beyond who use and enjoy the area as a recreational amenity.”
Mr Isherwood also spoke of the impact of wind farms on property values.
He said: “Although property experts have long acknowledged the harmful effect of wind farms on property prices, this association has previously been dismissed by the wind industry as conjecture.
“A report by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and Oxford Brookes University in 2007 suggested there was no clear relationship between the proximity of wind farms and property prices, and suggested that this may be an urban myth with apparent changes in value disappearing when examined closely.
“However, subsequent decisions by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to move certain houses close to wind farms into lower council tax bands have provided the first official recognition that wind turbines can lower the value of nearby homes.
“I further understand that evidence submitted by a Chartered Surveyor in respect of the Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm Application has substantiated the impact of wind farm development on property prices. This appears to corroborate evidence relating to local property prices detailed in submissions made regarding the Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm Application.”
