Controversial plans to build a wind turbine near Pen y Fan Pond in Caerphilly are set to go before Caerphilly County Borough Council’s planning committee.
An application by Sirius Renewable Energy seeks permission to build a 93 metre-high wind turbine on an industrial unit operated by Durisol UK on Pen y Fan Industrial Estate near Crumlin.
The plans have caused controversy, with local residents raising concerns of the impact on the nearby country park, Pen y Fan Pond.
Two petitions were set up opposing the plans, signed by 128 residents in total, while 37 letters of objection were also were also lodged. Assembly Member for Islwyn, Rhianon Passmore, is among the objectors.
A CCBC report prepared ahead of the meeting on Wednesday, August 15, says many of the concerns raised have since been addressed in the revised application.
The report said: “The main issues in this application are considered to be the effects of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the landscape and its consequences in these terms for impact on residential visual amenity, the effects on the adjacent Pen y Fan Pond Country Park, the effects on nature conservation interests, the effects on the amenity of properties in terms of noise and shadow flicker, and the effect on the highway network.
“These issues will be considered in turn below against the backdrop of the need to produce renewable energy in line with national targets.”
The application was originally due to go before the council’s planning committee in April with a recommendation for refusal.
However, a miscommunication over a site visit between CCBC’s planning team and the applicant meant the application was not heard.
Amended plans were submitted reducing the height of the proposed turbine from 113 metres to 93 metres. The plans have now been recommended for approval.
Rhianon Passmore AM said: “While I support in principle the need for more renewable energy production, it cannot be right that any area is overdeveloped.
“Further developments in the idyllic Pen y Fan area have negatively changed the character of this beautiful space which many, including myself, have enjoyed for generations. The devastating loss of the ancient oak hedgerow, intensive solar farm building and large wind turbines within this beautiful residential and rural setting has had a negative impact.”
I agree we need renewable energy but wind turbines are not the answer especially near a country park. These things will be an eye sore, they also do not produce nearly enough energy as the promise. But I will put money on it, that these things will be passed mark my words.
Yes good old caerphilly council will surely pass this scheme.
I don’t know why the UK Government doesn’t fully support wave power (such as the Swansea tidal lagoon) after all the tide can be fully relied upon to ebb and flow…..unlike wind power and solar energy.
On the subject of Energy – have you seen the news that from the end of this month the EU has banned the sale of Halogen lightbulbs in favour of LED bulbs and this will affect us in the UK.
A bit like the diesel versus petrol scandal we had in the UK – where the Government persuaded us to buy diesel vehicles as they were supposedly more eco friendly ( emissions wise ) and then that turned out to be a myth and they increased the tax on diesel vehicles !
Apparently the EU outlawed the old incandescent ( filament ) type of light bulb in favour of more eco friendly Halogen bulbs – now they intend to outlaw those as LED are more eco friendly ( but cost more to buy ).
It’s no wonder people no longer believe anything Governments tell us !
I never fell for the halogen lamp trap. Because any of these were called ‘low voltage halogen’ people thought that they were saving energy and money. The truth is that these lamps are short life, high energy consumers. At home I have changed to nearly all LED lighting and advise everyone to do the same. LED prices are falling and the lamps have a long life plus give full output more or less instantly.
I changed all but 1 of my household lights to LED too.
LED technology has moved on greatly and as you say prices of LED bulbs are falling.They are definitely the way forward.
What I take issue with is the way Governments proffer advice on so many things and then later on completely change that advice.
You can say that again John, I bought a brand new diesel car and am still driving it more than 12 years later. To me the low fuel consumption and the fact I have kept the car rather than swapping it for another one is better for the environment than somebody who has changed cars several times during those 12 years – whether the car is electric or not.
Despite buying diesels being official government advice in 2005 I am now the devil incarnate in their book for driving an oil burner.
Actually the halogen phase out was announced 9 years ago so plenty of time for the industry to prepare, as it has done.
If that picture is a representation of the turbine is it really so bad? Even if you dislike the appearance it doesn’t look too bad to me. There are already power lines in the image. We really need clean energy and it would be pretty poor if people couldn’t even put wind turbines on industrial sites.
Wind turbines are far more pleasing than rows of pylons and cables.
What we must remember is that we must find renewable alternative energies to replace fossil fuels and we need to decide on those alternatives now.
We cannot continue to argue to the point where in the future we no longer have fossil fuels but neither do we have renewable alternatives.