Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates has called for a change in the law to allow business rates collected from wind farm developments in Wales to be retained by the surrounding communities, to bring more direct benefits to the local areas.
Commenting, Assembly Member Mr Bates states:
“Local authorities in Wales collect vast sums of money in business rates from wind farm developments. This year Powys will collect over £680,000 which I believe should be redistributed to the benefit of the local communities, rather than being pooled centrally and shared by via a local government settlement which gives little allowance for the increased cost of delivering services in rural areas.
“Community opposition to wind farm developments often delays planning applications for months or even years, but these developments bring large sums of money in community benefits which can be used to protect local services and facilities and could help support community ownership of these facilities if they become at risk.
“Allowing communities surrounding wind farms to retain the business rates collected would be an additional benefit and allow community engagement and involvement in the future of our local areas, using the funds provided by wind energy developers.
“I have written to the Minister for Local Government to ask what legal mechanisms or changes would be needed to enable this to happen, so that communities in Wales can retain the vast monies paid by wind energy developers in business rates each year and make use of the direct benefits that this would bring to their local economies.”
