Carmarthenshire to have say on Brechfa Forest electricity connection

Western Power Distribution (WPD) has today set out it how it plans to consult the public on the Brechfa Forest Connection Project.  The details of the consultation have been published in a Statement of Community Consultation, which has been agreed with Carmarthenshire County Council.  

Local people will be given a chance to have their say on the proposed development including the locations of underground cables and wood poles for a new electricity connection in Carmarthenshire before an application seeking consent is submitted.

WPD is responsible for connecting the power that would be generated by RWE Innogy UK Ltd’s already consented Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm and wants to hear your views between Friday, 28 November 2014 and Friday, 16 January 2015.

The total length of the connection is about 28.6 km (17.8 miles) of which WPD is proposing to underground around 3.4 km (2.1 miles).

Consultation will include a series of public exhibitions where anyone who attends can see a 3D model of the proposals.

Andrew Hubbold at WPD said: “This phase of consultation, lasting seven weeks will probably be the last opportunity for everyone to have their say on the proposed development before we submit our application for a development consent order to the Planning Inspectorate.

“We will be showing where we plan to build each wood pole and where we would install underground cables.”

“We want to be able to consider everyone’s views before we refine the final design. I am looking forward to hearing what people think about our plans.”

This is the third round of consultation WPD has carried out and follows a round of consultation events in summer 2013 with elected representatives and community user groups and public consultation events in early 2014.

Copies of the Statement of Community Consultation can be viewed at the following Information points and on the project website here:

All the relevant comments made in the statutory consultation will be registered for consideration and summarised in a report which will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as part of WPD’s Development Consent Order application.

Information about the connection project and the forthcoming consultation events can be found on the Engagement and consultation page.