Mid Wales warning on decision over subsidies for wind farms
A decision to rule out subsidies for onshore wind farms may not be enforceable on those planned for Mid Wales, it has been claimed.
Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed last week that he is ruling out future subsidies, putting five subject to a public inquiry in Mid Wales into doubt.
But now Robert Robinson, Welshpool town clerk, said he fears the wind farm companies may have a legal case, as their applications have been held up by the inquiry. He said had they been given the go-ahead when the applications went in – some many years ago – they would have received the subsidies.
Mr Robinson said: "I understand that the decision on the public inquiry will be given by mid-July. My warning would be: do not get too excited by the announcement by David Cameron last week that they will not get subsidies.
"I think the wind farm companies could argue that they should have had the go-ahead by now and would have done were it not called in for the public inquiry.
"Future subsidies may have been ruled out but I would be concerned they have a very good legal case were the situation to pan out as we think."
Earlier this week, Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies said he is confident the five wind farms that are awaiting a decision from a public inquiry will never become a reality.
He said the wind farms, and more that are in the pipeline, would not be able to go ahead following an announcement by David Cameron that subsidies for onshore wind farms have been scrapped.
