Montgomeryshire AM, Russell George, has raised his concerns about the proliferation of wind farms in Mid Wales with the Prime Minister, David Cameron.
Mr George and other Welsh Conservative AMs recently (15th December) met with Mr Cameron to discuss matters of shared interest, which included the future of energy generation in the UK. In a separate meeting, Mr George then met with senior officials from the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), to discuss what the new infrastructure planning regime will look like from next April, when the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) is formally abolished.
Commenting, Mr George said:
“While it is my job to hold the Welsh Government to account in Cardiff, especially in its out-dated energy policy TAN8, I’m also keen to support my colleague, Glyn Davies MP, in all his efforts in London.
“These were two very useful meetings and it allowed me to raise our concerns about the Mid Wales Connection project at the very highest levels of the UK Government.
“My discussions with the Prime Minister were very open and relaxed and I believe he understood very well the needs of local people not only to express their views but to also have the ultimate say in shaping their community and environment.
“In meeting senior officials from DECC, I gleaned some new information about what the infrastructure planning regime will look like after next April and how decisions made on associated developments will fit within that process.
“I also had the opportunity to tell them that I strongly disagreed with the Energy Minister’s comments that Wales must ‘inevitability’ have more wind farms and pylons built for the national interest.
“Having showed them the Mapping Montgomeryshire report, they could see very clearly that we have more than our fair share in rural Mid Wales already.”
Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies, continued to put pressure on the UK Government today (20 December) by securing backbench time in the House of Commons Christmas Recess Debate, to speak about the devastating impact the Mid Wales Connection Project will have on the environment and people of Mid Wales.