CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans to build the highest onshore wind turbines anywhere in the UK, at a site between Maesteg and Bryn, were joined at a protest by Regional Senedd member Altaf Hussain.
Dr Hussain, who is a Welsh Conservative, spoke out against the plan for Y Bryn windfarm which would see turbines up to 820 feet (250 metres) in height erected on Margam Mountain.
The demonstration took place outside Bryn Village Hall where applicants Coriolis were staging a pre-application consultation. Further events took place in other affected communities including Maesteg, Taibach, Cefn Cribwr and Cwmafan.
The plan is to build 18 turbines, down from the original 26 that were initially proposed. They will vary in height from 250 metres to 206 metres and will be erected in two blocks – one near to Bryn on Margam mountain and the second on Garnwen Mountain above Nantyfyllon and Caerau.
Although the overall height of some has been reduced, four would be 250 metres to tip height which is more than 800 feet. This makes them the highest on-shore wind turbines being proposed in the whole of the UK.
Dr Hussain said: “My main objection concerns the height of the proposed turbines. They are monsters which will be visible from Devon. People in Bryn and nearby communities are being treated as guinea pigs by these developers. There are so many unknown factors because the only place where such high turbines are already in use is at sea so things like noise cannot be measured.
“Nobody will know what the blades will sound like until it is too late and they are in operation. Also, 800 feet is more than the length of two football pitches so if one of these collapses – and I understand that turbines are collapsing all over the world – then the fall-out could literally be enormous.
“These turbines could be up to ten times the height of the surrounding forestry so wind turbulence will be another factor especially as they are being placed on top of mountains that are already hundreds of feet above sea level.”
Dr Hussain said he would be submitting his objections as part of the pre-application consultation process currently underway. Coriolis are then due to submit a planning application later this year which will be decided by Welsh Government via PEDW – Planning and Environment Decisions Wales.