Wind farm protesters fear tourism threat

A multi-million-pound scheme to promote tourism in the South Wales Valleys will be undermined if plans for two new wind farms get the go-ahead, campaigners claim.

Plans for the wind farms straddling the Ogmore and Rhondda Valleys are due to go before councillors in July, when protesters will make their feelings known by marching on the council offices in Bridgend.

The campaign group South Wales Alternatives To Turbines (SWATT) has several objections to the proposals and fears villages like Glynogwr, Gilfach Goch and Evanstown will soon be "encircled" by wind farm developments.

Pennant Walters has submitted plans for 10 turbines at Pant y Wal, while npower wants to build 11 turbines, which are 115m high, across the Rhondda and Ogmore Valley.

There are already 20 turbines at Taff Ely and plans have been approved for another wind farm at nearby Mynydd Portref.

SWATT claims they will cause house prices to fall, noise pollution, increased traffic and loss of views.

But one of the group's biggest fears is the potential loss of tourism, which they believe could become a lucrative industry in the valleys.

Last month the Welsh Assembly Government announced that £22m would be injected into the valley to promote walking, cycling and riding, and to clean up the area.

SWATT'S group chairman David Edwards, of Glynogwr, said: "The Assembly will invest £23m in tourism, yet these wind farms could decimate the local tourism industry. They're looking at creating a new mountain bike network across the heads of the valleys and building hotels and hostels but who will want to come here when there's wind farms everywhere?

"We want a moratorium on all further wind farm developments until a survey is conducted on the economic impacts.

"This is already one of the poorest areas in Wales and we want to know if this will make things worse."

He added: "We do not blame the farmers for having their land developed, or the energy companies. We blame poor government policy.

"We now want to try to get as many people as we can to join us on our march to the council offices and to show their support."

Charity fundraiser Harry Hayes, 65, of Gilfach Goch, will be leading the march. He said: "We're only now recovering from the effects that the coal industry had on the landscape and I don't want to see it being re-industrialised This is a beautiful part of the country, full of wildlife. It's a prime area for tourism."

Pennant Walters and npower were unavailable for comment yesterday but on its website Pennant Walters says the development "will deliver tangible benefits to local people". It adds: "A community trust fund involving local people is also proposed for consideration, so that up to £60,000 a year can be used to promote environmental and social sustainability in the local area."

The npower site says: "Construction of the wind farm presents opportunities for local economic benefit and employment."