• Campaigners fear project will cause irreversible damage to countryside
  • Each of the 76 turbines will be taller than the London Eye and will be among the highest in Europe
  • Wind farm will be spread across up to 155 acres of countryside

By Luke Salkeld

PUBLISHED: 06:52 EST, 9 May 2012 | UPDATED: 09:16 EST, 9 May 2012

A hugely expensive and controversial wind farm was given the government's go-ahead yesterday, building a permanent 'blight on the countryside', campaigners said.

The 365million project, the biggest ever in England and Wales, will involve erecting 76 turbines - each of which will stand 475ft tall.

Countryside lovers, who have been fighting the proposal for almost two decades, said the farm would be 'ugly' and ruin the local landscape of hills and valleys.

The beautiful South Wales countryside which campaigners fear could be ruined by plans to build a wind farm

The beautiful South Wales countryside which campaigners fear could be ruined by plans to build a wind farm

But despite their petitions and appeals, they lost their struggle when permission was granted to build what will be among the highest turbines in Europe across 155 acres of countryside.

Each taller than the London Eye (443ft), it is claimed they will be able to produce enough energy to supply 206,000 homes.

But to those opposed to the Pen-y-Cymoedd development in South Wales, say that electricity will come at far too high a price for the area.

A spokesperson for the Glyncorrwg Action Group, named after an affected village, said: 'Wind farms are ugly, inefficient and will spoil the wild beautiful areas around the village.

'Our fight against the wind farm developers is one of David against Goliath, big business against small vulnerable communities.

'Measures should be introduced to prevent the free for all by developers, that is taking place in areas such as Glyncorrwg.'

Energy Minister Charles Hendry (pictured) who supports the proposed scheme

Energy Minister Charles Hendry (pictured) who supports the proposed scheme

He continued: 'This ugly, industrial wind farm development is totally unfair and it would ruin our landscape and our hopes to develop tourism.

'This proposal will be detrimental to our future, short-term gain will lead to long term losses of our beautiful landscape.'

The development on rural land between the Welsh towns of Neath and Aberdare, was given the backing of the energy ministry.

The wind farm is being built by Swedish company Vattenfall is likely to cost around 300 million, with construction starting as early as next year.

Despite vocal objections local councils chose not to block to the scheme.

Former Welsh Assembly Member Dr Brian Gibbons, who has seen the detailed plans, said the move forward was a 'disappointment'.

He added: 'It is too big and far too intrusive to our local communities.' 

The site of the farm is owned by the Forestry Commission Wales, which has worked with the company on the proposal, and is backed by the Welsh wing of the RSPB, whose director commented: 'RSPB Cymru welcomes the positive approach Vattenfall has taken to nature conservation through the Pen y Cymoedd wind farm - an approach which will result in a net gain for wildlife in this area.'

HIGHLAND WIND FARMS SWITCHED OFF OVER SAFETY WORRIES:

Wind turbines are being switched off in Scotland because of fears for children's safety.

Up to 16 turbines at school sites in The Scottish Highlands are affected by the move, in what is being described as a 'precautionary measure' by council bosses.

The machines are being turned off following concerns raised by Highland councillors and residents earlier this year.

The building of two new turbines in Scotland have also been postponed.

SNP's Inverness Central member Donnie Kerr, voiced concerns about their safety and refused to back their construction due to a lack of exclusion zone in either scheme.

Despite the turbine shutdown, however, Steve Barron, Highland council's deputy chief executive has vowed to continue to press on with renewable energy schemes.

She added: 'We hope that other companies will adopt a similar attitude and that that this project will set the gold standard for wind farm developments in Wales and, indeed, elsewhere.'

Vattenfall has pledged a benefits package to the community said to be worth 55 million, including 3 million for habitat management and 6,000 a year for each megawatt of electricity paid into a community fund.

Energy Minister Charles Hendry said: 'Onshore wind plays an important role in enhancing our energy security.
'It is the cheapest form of renewable electricity and reduces our reliance on foreign fuel.

'This project in South Wales will generate vast amounts of home-grown renewable electricity and provide a significant benefits package for the local community.'

The green light for the project comes after the Government released a joint report with industry body RenewableUK highlighting the benefits to the economy of onshore wind, including for local communities.

Vattenfall said it would cost around 300 million to build the wind farm, creating or supporting around 300 jobs in Wales, and once a final investment decision has been taken construction could start next year with the first electricity generated in 2016.

Piers Guy, Vattenfall's head of onshore wind development in the UK, said: 'Pen y Cymoedd is a major project that could be worth more than 1 billion to the UK economy.

'We have consistently stated our commitment to making sure that we maximise the value of Pen y Cymoedd to the region and to Wales. This is now our priority.'

Campaigners are angry about the proposed wind farm project, which could look similar to these turbines erected in Lincolnshire (pictured)

Campaigners are angry about the proposed wind farm project, which could look similar to these turbines erected in Lincolnshire (pictured)

Last month plans to build the world's largest wind farm at one of Britain's top tourist attractions are facing new opposition after protestors mocked up a video showing how the giant turbines will 'blight' the heavily-protected Jurassic Coast.

The 3 billion farm will be visible to the millions of tourists who visit the Dorset and Isle of Wight coast every year - and tourism chiefs fear it will drive visitors away from the area, currently England's only natural World Heritage site.

It also emerged that the Royal Family could soon be cashing in on dozens of wind turbines - even though they have been condemned by Prince Charles and Prince Philip.

Energy firms have been given the green light for 45 windmills on Crown Estate land, which will rake in 1million a year in subsidies.

Homeowners living next door to the prospective wind farms in Wales and Lincolnshire accused the Royal Family of hypocrisy, after the Prince of Wales described them as a 'horrendous blot on the landscape' while his father called them 'useless' and 'a disgrace'.

Here's what other readers have said. Why not debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

This is just a way of putting huge amounts of tax payer subsidies into the pockets of private companies under the thin veil promise of green energy. Who are you going to vote for at the next election? Just make sure it isnt one of the big three.

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Please, please no more windfarms, it is a useless way of producing large amounts of electric energy. Why can't the government get real and admit that modern nuclear energy plants is the only way that we can have the sort of power supplies that we need.

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this is fantastic news on a personal level..Im just about to complete a cable and fibre installation course , I've been told these wind turbines will create loads of work for cable installers who can earn 300 quid a day..cover the country in them me and my mates will be loaded for years and years..

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You're all playing the game by the windfarm-builders' rules, which is why you'll all fail - again. What you need to be asking is 'what windspeed prevails at hub height'; insist on seeing the data, and on being told how it was obtained; and demand to see the power curve for the selected turbine(s), to find out how much power ON AVERAGE, not under peak conditions, is likely to be generated. After that, calculate the payback time for the hardware when subsidies and feed-in tariffs have been deducted from the reckoning, and then you'll have a clear idea of just how useful - or useless - those things really are. Google 'sustainable energy - without the hot air' for impartial information on this kind of technology; write to your MPs and insist that they get on the case on your behalf; do anything, in fact except witter on sentimentally about 'the scenery', 'damaging the tourism industry' and 'wrecking our heritage' etc - becasue the windfarm industry could care less about such whimsies.

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I have never seen details of electricity actually produced by a wind turbine.

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76 wind powered electric geneators, each with a maximum output of 3,300,000 watts, total of 250,800,000 wats. This will supply 206,000 homes, this means, each home can have 1,220 watts. A washing machine uses' 3,000 watts. The maximum output is only delivered with a wind speed of 33 mph to 55 mph. The early generators shut down and did not start up untill the wind speed dropped to 3 mph. The latest generators can restart at a wind speed of 40 mph and some can restart at 50 mph. Output starts at 11 mph at 100,000 watts, which can be added to the elecricity grid. Increaseing to maximum output as the wind increases(check the specification details at the manufactoring web site). For those that live on the south coast of England, please note, France has 5 nuclear power stations on the coast of the English Channel.

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We say no, the government say yes. We say yes, the government say no!

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As long as those making money from this scam understand they will be forced to PERSONALLY remove the whole lot again in due course, and filmed while doing so in order to give everyone a laugh, then fine.........

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You can't cure stupid!

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tidal power is much better, what are your tides like around the UK

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