Today for some, the battle goes on to save the landscape west of Rhuthun from wind farms. Recently rejected by Denbighshire council’s planning committee, the two applications find their way to today’s council meeting. The reason is that a ‘no’ decision will only involve the council in cost when the appointed planning inspector applies TAN8 guidance, thereby allowing the development.It’s clear from the local newspapers that locals don’t want turbines. To date at any rate, local councillors support this view. Amid almost weekly letters of protest (albeit from a few campaigners), the only of support in the Free Press have come from an applicant and a resident who’s alleged to benefit financially should they go ahead.
Otherwise, people seem to find turbines a visual intrusion and of minimal environmental value.
The Stage 1 report of March 2007 on marketing the Dyffryn Clwyd/Vale of Clwyd suggests, “The importance of the Hiraethog lies in its natural beauty, conservation value and as a working landscape”. The reports points to the intrusiveness of the existing wind farm near Llyn Brenig and conclude more turbines “could have an even greater landscape impact on the area”.
Clocaenog Forest “has a very low profile as a recreational resource” and “much more could be done to raise its image and profile as a recreational resource for visitors coming to the Vale of Clwyd.” Protesters feel that it has little chance if tourism is snuffed out by wind turbines?
Our other main wind farm posts:
Here, here, here, here and here. Plus the popular post on nuclear v. wind farms.
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Wind farms