Pylons and Distribution Route

Pylons and the distribution route came up in the representations objecting to this case with many ‘Concerned about the visual impact’ and one respondent suggesting they ‘would prefer cables to the laid underground’. A local council then furthered that this preference should become a requirement, stating ‘the application will result in a need for connection to the national grid in which will generate a second development consent application. This is unwelcome and the council strenuously objects to any overland connection from the proposed substation over the area covered by the community council. Undergrounding of cabling should be a requirement’. Underground cabling was further referred to in another representation as being ‘more pleasing on the eye on not subject to controversial opinions over leukaemia from emissions from overhead power lines’.

Visually speaking representations included, ‘they are an eyesore which will need power lines to take energy away so that will be pylons which are eyesores’, ‘these pylons will spoil the beautiful landscape’, ‘All pylons that affect houses or sites of special interest and local beauty sports should be replaced by underground cabling’, ‘Ugly pylons’ and ‘it is a monstrosity’.

4.12.7.12

Site Choice

The site choice caused concern for local people, and representations were received objecting to the case as a result. One of the representations explained ‘the application is not in a remote moorland forest. The development site occupies the highest point in the area, in the centre of 12 villages with a great many individual properties and dwellings in between. There are 77 properties within the development area of the wind farm zone itself’. Whilst another added ‘if a wind farm is the best alternative available, I feel that it would be better built out at sea. I realize that there would still be a huge environmental footprint and wildlife will still be affected but I feel that the impact would not be as great as it would if it was built on land’.

Representations were received relating to the use and nature of this land, in objection to this site and they include ‘the proposed site is an area of outstanding natural beauty therefore it cannot be used to put wind turbines on this land’, ‘The proposals do not indicate the use of an appropriate colour or means of camouflaging the structures has been considered to mitigate visual effects’, ‘a restriction to

159 | P a g e freedom of passage during the construction process is a concern’ and ‘large numbers of people use the forest for recreational purposes’

Further representations relating to the historical importance of the site were received, the first stating ‘The developers opinion that the sites affected represent only a small proportion of the high value cultural heritage assets within the 10km study are adopted for this assessment is an irrelevant and subjective statement unsupported by evidence and underestimates the value of the sites that will be affected’. And the second explained ‘The hiraethog uplands are a remote area where there evidence of human occupation for thousands of years. This precious historical information is poorly understood. Because of the lack of information on these historic settlements it will be difficult to make a thorough assessment of the impact of any wind farm development without a thorough archaeological survey that includes a study of the context of any historical sites’.

4.12.7.13

Tourism

Objections to this project were received in relation to the importance of tourism to the area, as one representation explained ‘this area needs to encourage tourists as we have little industry to support us tourists and day trippers come here for the beauty of the area please don’t take that away from us’. In addition over 10 representations were receive stating in similar ways that tourism will be lost, which is a huge part of the welsh economy.

One representation explained the fears of wind turbines in relation to tourisms stating ‘with so many turbines being erected in north wales as well as mid wales I greatly fear that the tourists will be reluctant to visit. As tourism is one of the main sources of income in this area it seems dangerously short sighted to aid its demise’. Another representation added to this suggesting that ‘This wind turbines proposal will decrease the number of visitors to rural Denbighshire’.

Further representations describe the effect of the wind farm on the area, with one stating it ‘will destroy the landscape which local people need for their holiday businesses’, and another saying it will transform the area ‘from a tranquil rural area attractive for tourists, to a modern industrialised area’. As a result it could potentially, as another respondent explains ‘change the perception of rural wales as a holiday

160 | P a g e destination and harm the tourist trade. The tourists would retire from wales and the economy would suffer’.

4.12.7.14

Wind Turbine Doubts

There were various representations relating to the wind turbines themselves, one topic, which was of concern, was the fire risk posed. One such representation wrote ‘many turbines have combusted into flames. A turbine combusted into flames an scattered debris at least 100 metre range into the farmers field approximately a mile away from our property three years ago’. Further to this, another representation explained that ‘the area of the proposed wind farm which borders out land has had a lot of clear felling done on it and brushwood left behind. There have been well publicized instances of turbines catching fire and falling to the ground and we are concerned about the fire spreading to our forestry’.

Another concern which was presented in the representations was the efficiency of the wind turbines, numerous representations stated the ‘current inefficiency of these turbines’ as a reason for objection, and one representation said they are ‘not fit for purpose, their only constant is their inability to provide the energy claimed by developers’. Others questioned the financial viability of wind turbines, suggesting that ‘Wind farms do no actually produce enough electricity to make them viable, they are merely a ploy to pacify environmentalists’, whilst another representation described them as ‘horrendously expensive, inefficient and it will take many years before they become a carbon neutral producer of electricity’. Further representations questioned their suitability in comparison to conventional sources of energy with the first explaining ‘I have seen the existing turbines standing idle in extremely hot and cold weather and understand that they can never replace conventional sources of energy for that reason’. The second, expressed that ‘The wind turbines do not last very long – approx. 10 years – and have to have electricity to back them up when there is no wind, whilst the third, asked ‘No amount of wind turbines will shut a conventional power station, so how green are they in reality?’.

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4.12.7.15

Visual Impact

Many representations were concerned about the visual impact of the Clocaenog Forest wind farm. Representations were made regarding the change in character to the site, with one saying ‘The size and scale of the development will completely change the landscape of the area’, and another suggesting ‘It will totally spoil the landscape view in an area of outstanding beauty’. One representation said that ‘the infrastructure needed for such a project would be wholly out of place in such a landscape’, and others echoed this concern of industrialisation. Further on this topic, one representation stated ‘The scale of the proposal, combined with other consents granted for similar development in the vicinity, would create and industrialised landscape’, whilst another said ‘This is a further outrageous proposal to industrialise the countryside and should be resisted by everyone who cares about their environment’.

Further representations were made regarding views from private dwellings, as one of these expressed that ‘turbine two is situated only 893 meres from the farmhouse and in full view of the farmhouse so this would spoil the location’ and another said that the development would ‘ruin the spectacular views we are so privileged to enjoy’. One respondent described their view on the matter being ‘as an escapee from the suburban and highly developed environment of greater London I truly value the beauty and magnificence of north wales. The propose clocaenog wind farm which will be seen for miles around will destroy this countryside and turn it into an industrial landscape’.

Representations were made about the scale of the development with one representation saying that ‘the total height of the wind turbine towers and blade length they are far to big in overall height’. Another representation echoed the concern over the scale of the development stating ‘the whole area is going to be affected by these monsters, some of us will be totally surrounded by them’. And a further representation on the subject discussed that they felt ‘The visual images provided by the developer significantly understate the visual impact’.

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4.12.8 Decision

The Secretary of State announced on the 12th September 2014 that a decision had been made to grant development consent for the project. The Secretary of State has subsequently made an Order under s114 (1)(a) of the Planning Act 2008.