Two more wind farms?  Have your say by 21 September

Bute Energy and their sister GreenGen Cymru are proposing two new windfarms above the Gŵy/Wye Valley at Llangurig: Rhiwlas and Banc Du.  The first of these, Rhiwlas, is now being considered by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales, with a deadline of 21 September for the public to put in any comments.

The Rhiwlas development would consist of 12 turbines each 200m (656ft) tall, to be built around Foel Gurig (shown above) and  Rhiwlas Hill just beyond it.  For comparison, Foel Gurig itself is 480m above sea level, but only 210m above the valley floor.  So the hilltop is just 10m taller from ‘ground level’ than the turbines which are proposed to tower above. it.  To an observer standing beside the river – visiting the historic church of St Curig in the village, say – these turbines would double the height of the hills themselves.

Rhiwlas Hill is not inside the Cambrian Mountains as we currently define them, but it is literally ‘toe-to-toe’ with the Elan Valley Estate across the Gŵy/Wye.  No one walking on the tops of the Elan Valley, or along the eastern end of the Pumlumon ridge to visit Pumlumon Arwystli or Pumlumon Cwmbiga, could avoid seeing it – nor could the many tourists coming to Llanidloes, Llangurig or returning east along the A44 from their holidays in Ceredigion.

In view of the impact on the sense of space and tranquillity in the Cambrians, we’re working on a response from the Society itself, which we will circulate to members as soon as it has been finalised.  But in the meantime, anyone wanting to prepare their own response could start with some of the points suggested by Tim Smith, set out in summary form here.  The Save Banc Du and Rhiwlas group are working with ObjectNow to set up a webpage which will automatically generate an AI-written objection for you – but remember, there’s no better response than a truly personal one explaining why the area matters to you (personally, or due to the impact on local tourism, birds or wildlife).

PS Save our Peat!

if you haven’t yet signed our petition calling for a Senedd debate on banning all future development on Wales’ peatlands, you can read the petition in full and, if you agree, sign it here.

And please tell your family, friends and colleagues too.  We’ve got nearly 1500 signatures online already – but that means we need another 8,500 to get the Senedd to really focus on this enormous risk, before it’s too late!