After reading your very balanced headline article on 28th September regarding the proposed development of Nant Mithil Energy Park, I was encouraged by a friend to attend one of the community consultations by Bute Energy to learn more.

The displays were staffed by a large number of helpful Bute Energy staff members and a booklet was provided which outlined the project. However, a number of things struck me as odd when I looked through its pages. It claimed that “Nant Mithil Energy Park is located 9km east of Llandrindod Wells”. Well, no it isn’t - it hasn’t been built yet, and that 2,000 hectare site is the Radnor Forest. Furthermore, the photographs on the cover, and inside, largely feature land which is clearly outside the project boundary; namely the Mynd, Warren Wood, Great Rhos and Fron Hill near New Radnor. This reminded me of the claim in your article that “part of the site lies within a Pre-Assessed Area for large-scale onshore wind energy”. In fact, upon examining the maps on display, it became apparent that only about 20 per cent of this project lies within that area. Almost all of the Radnor Forest has been excluded from the Welsh Government’s Pre-Assessed Area 4, leaving very few proposed turbine locations on so-called pre-assessed land. There is a “presumption in favour” of development within these areas, but they would still have to undergo full Environmental Impact Assessment.

The booklet also mentions that a grid connection is in place, and that this would be subject to a separate planning application. However, one of the staff told me that the connection was in Carmarthen, while another told my friend it was Swansea, but both acknowledged that there was currently no grid to get it there. Hendy windfarm seems to be experiencing similar difficulties so why are the Welsh Government encouraging projects in areas where there is no realistic prospect of a grid connection for what could be the best part of a decade? This was a question that many people were asking that evening. Coupled with the fact that, when pressed, project staff had to admit that not all the necessary landowner agreements had been obtained, it began to look as though the cart was firmly ahead of the horse.

As the evening progressed small groups of residents were deep in conversation with staff asking questions about possible detrimental effects on private water supplies, river pollution (Radnor Forest is a major river catchment area), the growing tourist industry based around Radnor Forest, wildlife, disturbance of peat and the beautiful landscape. It was quite clear that they did not know much about local culture, history or community cohesion and how divisive their ambitions are. Perhaps the biggest surprise for local residents came from the detailed maps and photomontages on display, which showed just how prominent the huge turbines would be, especially when viewed from Llandegley and Penybont. This contrasts with the claim by the developers in your article that the site would be “sufficiently far away from people’s homes”. Remember that these turbines would be about twice the height of those on Llandegley Rhos.

The question of money reared its ugly head, and questions were asked about how the local economy would benefit when so many small businesses relying on tourism would suffer. The Radnor Forest is a major attraction for multiple outdoor pursuits. There were no clear answers, except the community benefit fund, but the community is already growing and benefitting from increased domestic and international tourism because of the special nature of the area. It’s a hard to believe that a company claiming to be Welsh, but with Scottish parents and Danish investors, really has the interests of the Radnorshire residents at heart. One friend told me recently that if this project goes ahead he would become bankrupt, and that he is considering moving to Scotland. I’m sure he is not alone.

I don’t think many people disagree with the fact that we desperately need to capitalise on the energy that can be harnessed from water, sunlight and wind but this is not the way to gain the support that should come from communities who see the precious beauty of their surroundings, small business income and property values under threat. There are still remain plenty of locations where renewable energy projects would cause minimal disruption and gain more local support. This is clearly not one of them.

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