7:30am Wednesday 17th June 2009
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a wind farm to be built on Mynydd y Betws have finally been rubber-stamped after a public inquiry.
The go-ahead was revealed to Carmarthenshire Council last week and the green light has prompted a mixed response from throughout the Amman Valley.
The application, for a 15-turbine farm, had originally been given the thumbs-up by county planners in 2007 but was called in by the Assembly after a string of local objections.
That led to a public inquiry being held in the Aman Centre, Ammanford, at the end of last year and after months of delays the decision has finally been made.
The outcome has been met with delight in some quarters, with Garnant County Cllr Kevin Madge insisting the development was “excellent news” for the area.
“I’m delighted by this move as I have supported these proposals from the very beginning,” he said.
“Not only will it bring numerous community benefits to the area, the power it will create will be immeasurable.
“Also, in the short term, it will create some much-needed jobs in the area,” he added.
However, not everyone shares Cllr Madge’s views, with fierce objectors Betws Mountain Preservation Group’s advocate at the inquiry, Geoff Sinclair, warning residents they would be in for a shock.
“The 16 x 110m turbines would be by far the biggest in Wales – people will be in for a shock when they see them going up,” he said.
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