WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

WIND FARMS, SUB STATIONS, TRANSPORT AND PYLONS (SURVEY RESULTS)

THIS IS THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY

TRANSPORT - WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR US ALL

Welshpool Town Council has been invited to give oral evidence to the relevant WAG Committee on this subject

The Town Council is preparing its submission for the latest WAG consultation on Wednesday 10th August at 6pm in the Assembly Room of the Town Hall (public welcome)

LATEST NEWS ON TAN 8 HERE - (click here for the draft letter of objection by Welshpool Town Council to all wind farm proposals approved on 24th August 2011 and sent off on 25th August 2011)

INTRODUCTION

The introduction of TAN8 some time ago has brought forward the subject of wind farms, hubs, pylons and transport issues.  The situation has been clear to the Town Council for some time but the local community has only ‘woken up to the effects’ of the developments proposed in the last few months.  There have been many public meetings by protest groups and some community councils, however the Town Council did not feel that the attendance at many of these meetings was a large enough proportion of the electorate in Welshpool for the Council to form a view on the subject on behalf of its residents.  It was for this reason that a survey was instituted.

The other community councils were invited to do something similar to strengthen the position of the electorate’s views, however due to the receipt of an ‘aggressive’ letter from Renewable UK many have decided to take no action.  It appears Welshpool, yet again, is going alone on this route.  The Council did discuss the letter from Renewable UK and decided that their letter was flawed and did not change anything. Indeed Renewable UK was given the chance to influence the leaflet and questions but did not come forward with anything.  A letter confirming the situation has been sent to them.  The Town Council has not taken a stance until the survey results have been completed and the Council has had time to consider the results.

CONSULTATION

The consultation in Welshpool took place between the 11^th and 16^th June 2011 by using the following methods:

Main Town Boundary – by delivery of the leaflet and questionnaire door to door collected the following day by Councilors.

Outlying areas – the leaflet sent by post with a SAE for return.

The High School was also consulted with a presentation and questionnaire to complete.

The returned questionnaires were placed into sealed boxes ready for counting on the 17^th June at the Town Hall.  The High School and Electorate results were kept separately.

The count was orgainsed in consultation with Ewan Macleod who was appointed to oversee the counting of the survey forms.

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

The return level was very good and gives the Council a clear indication of where the electorate is on the important subject of TAN8.

From the results the following can be taken (although the  Town Survey was clear the High School showed closer results):

Wind Farms

There is no clear support for renewable energy programme as envisaged by TAN8 and the wind farm developments with concerns expressed about location and size.

Pylon Lines

There is a strong theme of opposition to the pylon lines in their present form.

Electricity Hub

There strong objection to the proposed Hub mainly due to its location and its sheer size.

Transport

The concerns about transport continue.

Public Inquiry

It is clear that there is strong support for a public inquiry so that all can have a chance to express a views in public and so that a result can be achieved sooner rather than later.

Actions since 2007

Public meetings.

Objections to every Wind Farm and TAN8 planning application since 2007.

Information issued to Community Councils around the Town.

Presentations to many groups which included the TAN8 proposals and the extent of them.

Petitions to Parliament, Welsh Assembly and PCC in 2008 and 2009.

Meetings with Ministers held on subject at both Parliament and Welsh Assembly.

Full Town Survey completed in June 2011.

Council confirms past policy and agrees action plan following results of Full Town Survey.

Further petitions presented to Parliament, Welsh Assembly and PCC in June 2011.

Renewed letters of objection sent to PCC on every current planning application in July 2011.

Objections lodges to both National Grid and Scottish Power in July 2011.

Objection to Dyfant Forest proposals lodged July 2011.

Letter regarding the LDP environment and wind farms sent 11.08.2011. Copy here.

Copy of general objection letter to PCC on wind farm applications can be seen here.

NOTE:

The North Wales Association of Town and Larger Community Councils has supported Welshpool Town Council in their objections.

 COUNCIL POLICY AND ACTION PLAN

The suggested action plan for the Council, taking into account the results of the consultation, is as follows:

1.         The Planning and Development Committee to be tasked with taking all these actions forward including petitions to Parliament and the Welsh Assembly as appropriate. 

2.         The information form the survey is to be available as a public

            document.

3.         The Montgomeryshire Forum and the North Wales Association of Town and Larger Community Councils are to be asked to put the survey results on their agenda.

4.         One Voice Wales to be informed of the results of the survey.

5.         A petition to both Westminster, the Welsh Assembly and Powys County Council seeking a public inquiry on the best way forward for TAN8 is to be submitted before the summer recess.

6.         The Council is to object through all channels to object to the TAN8 proposals based upon the public survey carried out with every household between 11^th and 16^th June, this will include all consultations, planning applications, the LDP and other avenues

6a.       New letters of objection (following initial ones sent at time of various planning applications) sent to PCC on all wind farm applications. Such letters had survey results included.

7.         The Council will support the protest groups where appropriate to further this policy.

8.         The Planning and Development Committee is to report back to Full Council at its monthly meetings as a standing item on the agenda for the foreseeable future.

9.         An overall plan showing all parts of TAN8 and its effects on a single drawing is being prepared.

Those shown in green have been done.  Those in blue have been started.

The Council should adopt a formal policy on the subject of TAN8 and the following is suggested taking into account the completed door to door survey:

1.            The Council recognises the need for renewable energy and indeed understands that Mid Wales must take its share of the provision, however the current TAN8 plans are not the correct way forward.

2.             The Council objects to TAN8. For clarification this means that the Council is opposed to any further wind farm development in Montgomeryshire.

3.             The Council does not support overhead pylon lines of the size and scale that they are, as known at this time, and will seek to gain the best solution in reducing the impact by various other methods (underground, route location etc).

4.              The Council does not support the location of the large hub near communities and would also seek to reduce its size by seeking alternative ways of distribution of energy through Mid Wales.

5.            The Council is still concerned about the transport proposals and still seeks an overall plan (showing all the transportation proposed) so that a clear picture emerges upon which to make a considered opinion.  The continued objection to wind farm applications on this point will be continued, including the petition submitted to the WAG in 2008 now to be heard on 4th July 2011 in Cardiff.

6.             The Council is strongly in favour of a public inquiry into TAN 8 and will use its best endeavors to achieve this. 

7.         The Council will support the inclusion of renewable energy as required by the planning rules for new homes.

A consultation has been issued by the Welsh Assembly

Government on the Wind Farms, Pylons, Hub and

transport.  The Town Council will be responding to this

consultation, due back by early September.