Carmarthenshire to have its say on Brechfa Forest electricity connection

Western Power Distribution (WPD), which is responsible for connecting the power that would be generated at the wind farms planned for the Brechfa Forest area, is seeking views on its possible routes, known as route alignment options. 

Andrew Hubbold at WPD said:

“This period of consultation is an important opportunity for local people to tell us what they think about our proposals and be part of the planning process.   In developing our plans we have ensured that the views and local expertise of community representatives were considered in the decision making process along with those of our environmental and engineering specialists.

“I am looking forward to hearing people’s views about our plans.”

Consultation with the public will start on 17 February, lasting for eight weeks, and will include public exhibitions.  These events will provide opportunities for the public to see the plans together with the engineering and environmental reports that have informed the proposals.  There will also be the chance to ask members of the project team specific questions and share views with them. 

Consultation closes on Friday, 11 April 2014 and members of the public are reminded that comments submitted after that date will not be counted.

WPD is holding the following public exhibitions:

Thursday 6 March
Waunifor, Maesycrugiau, ger Pencader, SA39 9LX
15:00 - 20:00

Thursday 13 March
Llandyfaelog Community Hall, Llandyfaelog, SA17 5PA
15:00 - 20:00

Friday 21 March
Waunifor, Maesycrugiau, Nr Pencader, SA39 9LX
15:00 - 20:00

Wednesday 26 March
Llandyfaelog Community Hall, Llandyfaelog, SA17 5PA
13:00 - 18:00

Saturday 29 March
The Ivy Bush Royal Hotel, Spilman St, Carmarthen, SA31 1LG
10:00 - 15:00

Wednesday 12 March
Brechfa Village Hall, Brechfa, SA32 7QY
15:00 - 20:00

Thursday 20 March
St Peter’s Civic Hall, 1 Nott Square, Carmarthen, SA31 1PG
15:00 - 20:00

Saturday 22 March
Brechfa Village Hall, Brechfa, SA32 7QY
10:00 - 16:00

All the comments made during Stage 2 consultation will be registered for consideration and summarised in a report which will be made publicly available later in the year (2014).  In summer 2014 we will announce our preferred alignment. Once a preferred alignment has been chosen and further detailed environmental and technical surveys have been carried out, we will carry out formal consultation over a four week period in autumn 2014, before submitting the application for consideration to the Planning Inspectorate.  This is expected to be towards then end of this year. 

Last summer WPD asked local representatives, including community councils, MPs and AMs, for their local knowledge to help develop preferred corridors for the new connection. These corridors were announced on 10 January 2014.

Two of the wind farms proposed by RWE npower renewables in the Brechfa Forest have already received planning permission from the Secretary of State. (Brechfa Forest East and Brechfa Forest West).  RES is promoting the third wind farm - Bryn Llywelyn.

Information about the connection project and the forthcoming consultation events is available on the website at www.westernpower.co.uk/brechfa-forest-connection