Film wind turbine dummy runs, say protesters

Campaigners are stepping up their fight to prevent thousands of lorries delivering wind turbines from using roads in Shropshire and Mid Wales.

A series of dummy runs is expected to take place in Montgomeryshire over the next three days, starting today. And campaigners say they want residents to send in footage of any problems the loads may cause.

The Conservation of Upland Powys group chairman Alison Davies said she hoped people would take photographs and video footage of any damage and danger that the loads cause.

The abnormal loads being carried out by a Dutch transport company, were expected to be trialled today, tomorrow and Friday, with the first two days affecting Montgomeryshire motorists.

Friday's trial run will affect the south of Powys.

Starting at 6am, the load will leave Swansea Docks on the M4 and is expected to travel through Caersws, near Newtown, past Llanidloes and through Llangurig to Sweet Lamb and Ponterwyd.

Campaigner Michele Lloyd of Kerry, near Newtown, said: "These are test runs done to identify the transport issues or pinch-points which exist along the chosen route.

"The vehicles will be carrying lightweight frames representing the maximum lengths, heights and widths of the turbine components that would be have to be transported to the windfarms.

"We want people to film and photograph these loads, especially at pinch/pressure points, any damage/danger and traffic congestion and tailbacks," she added.

A spokesman for Powys County Council, said it was aware of some test drives taking place in the region over the coming days.

He said: "Any runs that we have been made aware of will be done using police escort and we will be monitoring progress."

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