THE CAMPAIGN
To Stop Wind Farms by Glaslyn & Hafren, Mid Wales
Photograph taken looking towards Glaslyn & the Plynlimon Mountains from the proposed Wind Farm.
WHAT'S IT
ABOUT?
A massive wind farm is proposed in the unspoilt upland area near the Glaslyn Nature Reserve and the Hafren Forest. It is outside the pre-assessed areas for windfarms defined by the Welsh Government. The 1,489 hectares site extends from Glaslyn in the northwest to Hafren Forest in the south and Llyn Clywedog to the east. Bute Energy are planning to put 26 turbines, each 220m tall, in this beautiful habitat, despite many local objections to the scheme.
The layout of the turbines will be as shown (map produced by Bute Energy)
Map Image from Google Maps.
These will be the largest wind turbines ever constructed on the UK mainland – each twice the height of Big Ben. As well as the turbines themselves there will be transformers, crane platforms, storage areas, access tracks, an electrical substation and an anemometer mast. Each turbine foundation alone will involve 2000 tonnes of concrete and 200 tonnes of steel.
Bute’s full proposal can be viewed at www.esgairgaledenergypark.wales
WHAT WE'RE PROTECTING.
Environment
A key reason to stop wind farms in this particular area is because this proposed windfarm is inappropriately sited in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains, renowned for their unspoiled beauty, wilderness and tranquillity. The 26 giant turbines (each larger than a 70-storey building) would extend from the boundary of the Glaslyn and Bugeilyn lakes National Nature Reserve (Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust’s “flagship reserve…its largest, wildest and of very considerable scientific importance”), across to Dylife, Staylittle, Llywynygog and nearly to Llyn Clywedog. The proposed site is close to two SSSIs and less than 1km from Pumlumon SSSI, one of largest and most important in Wales. The River Severn springs from its source in the peat wetlands here and enters the Hafren Forest less than 2km from the nearest proposed turbines. The unspoiled wilderness rolling uninterrupted across the upland hills provides important habitat and wildlife corridors.
The turbines themselves, and all the associated infrastructure, access tracks and construction works, would severely impact this unique and sensitive ecosystem which currently supports many species. As well as a number of Red Data Book and UK BAP invertebrates and red listed species (listed in Wales own Nature Recovery Plan), the area is important for breeding, wintering and feeding birds. Golden plover, merlin, hen harrier, red and black grouse, skylark and occasionally curlew are seen here. The whole area is a redoubt for one of mid Wales’s proudest success stories, the Red Kite. Osprey are gradually beginning to establish in this area with two pairs flourishing and nesting at Llyn Clywedog itself. As well as the inevitable disturbance and pollution involved during construction, these birds of prey are known to be particularly vulnerable to collision with the unimaginably large turbine blades, as are migratory and nighttime flying birds such as short eared owl, barn owls, nightjars and snipe – all of which are known to be present here. The Emperor Moth can be spotted here and Glaslyn supports the rare aquatic quillwort, while the unique Black finned Brown Trout swims beneath the water lilies of Bugeilyn.
This area currently provides us with many irreplaceable ecosystem benefits, so vital to battling climate change as well as the nature and biodiversity emergency. These include carbon storage in upland peat soils, carbon sequestration from blanket bogs, natural flood prevention through water storage and ecosystem connectivity and biodiversity.
“The Cambrian Mountains’ blanket bogs, in addition to acting as a huge rainwater sponge slowing the release of rainwater into streams and rivers, have the potential to sequester enormous amounts of carbon.” (Cambrian Mountain Society)
Peatland requires thousands of years to build up but would be destroyed instantly by the vast digging and construction works. The destruction would be permanent – the massive reinforced concrete turbine bases alone extending 15 metres into the ground and requiring in the region of 2000 tons of concrete would be there for ever.
Any proposed ‘mitigations’ would be worth very little. There is typically little or no monitoring or enforcement of conditions that may be attached to planning (or indeed offered by Bute themselves). Even if initially installed or carried out, the whole development will be sold on at least once or probably multiple times over the years and any existing ‘mitigations’ would inevitably be forgotten, ignored, or fall into disuse.
“The construction of modern marine-scale turbines …would have an irreversible impact on the rare and fragile habitats for which the uplands are prized, and by extension on those birds and animals which depend on them either for permanent homes or as part of their migration routes north and south” (CMS)
Visual Impact
These turbines are far higher than any so far erected on the UK mainland and would be visible for 60 miles and more in every direction on the open uplands.
“Any turbines placed high on the open plateau will affect the perception of the landscape as a whole not only in the immediate vicinity but over many miles. The experience of space, openness and tranquillity which these uplands convey would be only too easily destroyed by the placing of large turbines or large groups of smaller turbines, anywhere within the upland region….Areas of wild land character such as these uplands are very sensitive to any form of intrusive human activity and have little or no capacity to accept new development. Wind farms would be out of character and, precisely because of the openness, tranquillity and simplicity of the landscape, the scope for mitigating impacts is limited. We can have wild, open uplands or wind farms. It is not possible to fudge the issue and have ‘a bit of both’.”
“From any point on the high ground, the visitor has a sense of a vast, open land stretching away in all directions… The Cambrian Mountains support rare and valued habitats and species, and have a coherent character setting them apart both from the more mountainous north and the undulating lowland areas to the east and west. As such, the landscapes offer a sense of space and grandeur of the kind which are proven to positively influence visitors’ mental health and well-being…and offers some of the longest distance views in Wales - endless vistas …It offers a glorious solitude and represents an increasingly rare and fragile resource.”
Natural Resources Wales Cambrian Mountains Landscape Character map & Information
Heritage
The proposed area is rich in sites of archaeological and historical interest. There are 22 designated sites within 5km (1 within 250m), 16 are scheduled ancient monuments, 11 of which are classified as prehistoric. CADW have noted that the weather mast alone would “have an adverse effect upon the closest monument and how it is experienced, understood and appreciated”. The village of Dylife – a ‘Dark Skies’ site and site of impressive lead mining remains, also close to the spectacular Ffrwyd Fawr waterfall - is within 500m of the site boundary and would be completely overshadowed, as would the communities of Llwynygog and Staylittle.
Many local people depend upon tourism and the draw of this much loved area around Glaslyn, Bugeilyn and the Hafren Forest as well as its close proximity to Plumlumon. The Cambrian Way and Glyndwr Way attract walkers, hikers, horse riders and cyclists, as well as anglers, paragliders, naturalists and those interested in the many sites of historical, archeological and cultural significance. Many come simply to experience the stunning views along the remote mountain road bordering the site from Machynlleth to Dylife and on to Staylittle and Llyn Clywedog and Llanidloes. The whole area is classified as a Dark Skies site but this would be destroyed by light pollution associated with turbine development.
Tourism and the local economy
Human rights and local communities
Local rural communities all over the world act as the guardians of their local natural spaces and the ecosystem benefits they provide. They can reasonably be expected to both have a say in, and most importantly a veto over, both how and whether, their natural resources are used and exploited. This is a universal tenet of human rights and we rightly criticise the exploitation of local peoples and their lands in other countries by outside agents, governments and large corporations. This is exactly what is happening here. Unless it's possible to stop wind farms here, the local communities most directly affected by this proposed development will be subjected to devastating negative impacts while the profits, and the energy produced will be exported to the National Grid in England. Local people will suffer devastating losses to their precious natural heritage and proximity to the wild mid Wales uplands, their historical, cultural, physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing and connection to their lands. Their livelihoods will be directly affected if not immediately destroyed.
Wellbeing of Future Generations and the climate and nature emergency
The Welsh Government is rightly proud of its 2015 legislation the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act. The imposition of industrial scale turbines, with all the destructive impacts on nature and ecosystem benefits that this would entail, on such a beautiful and unindustrialized area and entirely without the consent of local communities, would be in direct contravention of stated aims:
“Wales is renowned for its diverse wildlife and landscapes, a rich tapestry of species that have added vibrancy to our natural environment. Today, however, we confront unsettling headlines. The escalation from 12% of bird species being red-listed in 2002 to 27% now underscores the seriousness of the situation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red-list is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity.
This is an urgent invitation to take action. ..Wales has a national milestones to reverse the decline in biodiversity with an improvement in the status of species and ecosystems by 2030 and their clear recovery by 2050. To achieve this, I call on every individual, community, and organisation in Wales to work with me to tackle these crises. This is a clear timeline which requires urgent action.
I join the Wildlife Trust and others in calling for policies to be targeted towards species recovery, addressing water pollution, funding wildlife-friendly farming, enabling healthy communities, and tackling climate change.
We owe it to our future generations to protect, enhance and promote our natural world.”
