Consultation launched on Brechfa Forest electricity connection

Western Power Distribution (WPD) has today (28 November 2014) started public consultation on the Brechfa Forest Connection Project. More than 8,000 Carmarthenshire residents have been invited to comment on plans to connect Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm to the electricity network using wood poles and underground cables.

The consultation is likely to be the last chance people will have to comment on the application for consent before it is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in 2015.

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 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).

The consultation includes a series of public exhibitions where anyone who attends can see a 3D model of the proposals.  The project website will also include videos of the proposed development.

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.”

Exhibitions will be held at the following locations:

Llandyfaelog Community Hall, Llandyfaelog, SA17 5PA: Tuesday 9th December 2014, 3pm to 8pm

Brechfa Village Hall, Brechfa, SA32 7RA: Wednesday 10th December 2014, 3pm to 8pm

Peniel Community School, Peniel, Carmarthen, SA32 7AB: Tuesday 16th December 2014, 4.30pm to 8pm

St Peter’s Civic Hall, Carmarthen, 1 Nott Square, Carmarthen, SA31 1PG: Wednesday 17th December 2014, 3pm to 8pm and Saturday 10th January 2015, 10am to 4pm

Alltwalis Community Centre, The Old School, Alltwalis, Carmarthen SA32 7EB: Friday 9th January 2015, 3pm to 8pm

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.

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, which sets out how WPD is consulting, can be viewed at our information points and on the project website here. This document has been agreed with Carmarthenshire County Council.

Information about the connection project and the forthcoming consultation events is available here.