Last chance to enjoy the beauty of the Welsh Valleys?
For immediate release 9 January 2007
The Ramblers’ Association and South Wales communities, supported by CPRW are taking to the hills this month (January 2007) for a series of 'Gorwel Agored' / 'Clear Horizon' Walks to raise awareness of new wind turbine developments being planned across the South of Wales.
Whilst wind power is clearly one element of how we might generate our electricity, the Welsh Assembly has designated a significant part of the Welsh Valleys to be set aside for wind energy (TAN8, (1)). This will mean an almost continuous belt of turbines running from Ammanford in the West to Merthyr Tydfil in the East; and from Maesteg in the South to the Brecon Beacons National Park boundary in the North. With turbines now commonly reaching 130 metres (400 feet) high, there will be a huge impact on our upland landscapes and the communities living there.
For local communities, exactly where turbines are to be placed is therefore critical. Local authorities are only now drawing up planning guidance to support this. Whilst this should be open to public consultation, information about its preparation has been less than forthcoming. The Ramblers’ Association and CPRW want to make the people of South Wales aware of what is happening in their locality and to ask people to make their views known to their AMs and to their local Council. (2)
Martin Dowson, Countryside Campaigner for the Ramblers’ Association Wales says, “Wind farms play an important role in reducing carbon emissions, but their damaging impact on the landscape, at this scale of development, should not be underestimated. We do not think people generally realise the scale of these developments or indeedimpact that the digging up of the hills to support the building of turbine foundations and service tracks will have. By asking people to join these walks we want to show what a special place it is we live in and the qualities that will be lost if these plans go ahead. If wind farms are to proceed, we need to think very carefully about where they are to go”.
He adds, “Government policy is giving unnecessary priority to on-shore wind energy. Frustratingly, alternatives to such large-scale on-shore wind farms do exist. The Government could direct investment into a much wider range of renewables, such as tidal, bio-fuels, micro-generation or even off-shore wind farms; into more efficient fossil fuel power stations; and importantly into promoting energy saving and demand reduction”.
Says John Thomas, Ramblers’ volunteer from Tonypandy, “Our hills have only just recovered from years of ravaging by the mining industry. Isn’t it time we were allowed to appreciate the true beauty of the country on our doorsteps?”
In supporting this series of awareness raising walks, Peter Ogden, Director of CPRW said, “The views, open spaces and freedom provided by the hills and uplands of Wales are one of our most important yet undervalued community assets. The cancerous spread of on shore wind farms across the uplands of South Wales will therefore do little more than blight the uplands of the Valleys and deprive local people of the opportunity to enjoy them”.
To experience these hills before they disappear, ‘Teithiau Gorwel Agored /Clear Horizon Walks’, open to anyone with good pair of walking shoes and are being held from January to April (details below, (3)). Contact Tom Allen, Ramblers’ Glamorgan Area Countryside Secretary, (Tel. 01656 738079) for more information or visit http://www.ramblers.org.uk/wales/ and click on news of ‘Teithiau Gorwel Agored/ Clear Horizon walks’.
Notes:
(1) TAN8: Technical Advice Note 8, Welsh Assembly Government (July 2005). TAN8 assigns a total of 390MW of wind energy generating capacity to the South Wales Valleys (Strategic Search Areas E and F) – one third of the total planned for the whole of Wales.
(2) Existing local planning guidance is simply out of date in the context of large-scale wind farm developments. To supplement development plans, local authorities in Bridgend, RCT, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Carmarthenshire are developing supplementary guidelines, based on refinement studies (impact assessments) carried out by consultants. These plans should be available for public consultation.
(3) Walks programme details
Saturday 13th January, 10am, starting from Dare Valley Country Park. 5 miles (approx. 2.5 hours). Leader David James, tel. 01685 874600.
Sunday 21st January, 10.30am starting from Fox and Hounds pub, Blackmill. 4 miles (approx. 2 hours). Leader Alun Cole, tel. 01656 842751.
Sunday 11th February, 9.30am starting from Tyler’s Arms, Llangynwyd. 6 miles. Leader Neil Perry, tel 01656 730592.
Saturday 3rd March, 10am, starting from Glyn Clydach Hotel, Skewen, Neath. 3 miles. Leader: Terry Griffiths, tel 01639 637964
Directions: From junction 43 of M4, join A465. At next junction take the A4230 for Skewen. Pass Tesco on the left and at a double mini-roundabout take a right turn to Longford. After ¾ mile on the right is the Glyn Clydach Hotel. Car park is a further 50 yards on the right
Saturday 10th March, 10am, Glyncorrwg. Details to be confirmed.
Leader: John Thomas, tel. 01443 681082
Sunday 8th April, Maesteg, starting from Sports centre. Details to be confirmed. Leader: Neil Perry, tel 01656 730592
