Windfarm 'a risk to lives'
Lives will be put in danger and emergency services will face increased pressure if plans for a windfarm route through Mid Wales get the go-ahead, it has been claimed.
Lives will be put in danger and emergency services will face increased pressure if plans for a windfarm route through Mid Wales get the go-ahead, it has been claimed.
Dozens of protesters attended a meeting of Welshpool Town Council's planning committee yesterday to hear how developers plan to carry turbine parts through their town to a proposed windfarm site.
Residents believe the route proposed by developer RES for its planned windfarm of 43 126.5m turbines between Llanerfyl, near Welshpool, and Llanbrynmair, near Machynlleth, should not be allowed.
Campaigners have now called on Government officials to launch a public inquiry on the transportation for all proposed wind farms in the area.
Robert Robinson, council clerk, said the Llanbrynmair development would mean up to 1,000 lorry movements for each turbine.
He said: "The developers say they were unable to attend this meeting which is very disappointing because a lot of people want answers.
"We as a town council are totally against these transport proposals and will be do- ing everything in our power to stop this from happening."
He said the route would go through the centre of Welshpool before heading towards Llanfair Caereinion.
He said: "It will pass through Llanfair and then make its way up Llanerfyl before turning left at the community centre and travelling up a little road, which can hardly even cope with a car. One of our main concerns is about how the emergency services would be able to respond in time when the convoys are operating.
"Will it mean lives could be put in danger?"
Judy Stretton, from Llanerfyl, said she had been told lorries would be travelling to the proposed site between 6am and 8pm up to six days a week, for two years.
She said that "the transport side of things seems absolutely ridiculous", adding: "I live along this particular route and my life will be totally disrupted."
Councillor Steve Kaye said developers needed to start thinking about carrying the turbines by air.
Mr Robinson said a petition seeking a public inquiry would be delivered to Parliament soon.
