Hi All,
Just a quick update on our mountain...
There has been a recent application by the wind Farm developer Pennant Walters. At the moment this is in the ( pre-application stage). CAS-03701-H3V4Y3
https://planningcasework.service.gov.wales/searchresults?q=CAS-03701-H3V4Y3
The Rhyswg wind farm development will be for an additional 4 ( 180m High ) wind turbines between the beauty spots of Cwmcarn Drive and Nant Gwyddon. This will take the total number of Wind Turbines back up to the original 21 that RES had planned for the area to begin with. see link to origianal plans below:-
https://www.mynyddmaen-windfarm.co.uk/media/2644012/figure-23-turbine-layout-evolution.pdf
Even though these projects are now being submitted by different developer companies, it does appear to be organised as though it is one huge ridiculous electrified industrial project with all developers sharing route roads and Cenin Solar farm sharing the same RES developers Substation, which is situated not far from the gas station around the area at the top of Nant Gwyddon. All the RES turbine locations, and substation are in large areas of Peat..
The Rhyswg wind farm will require even more of the mountain to be used for access roads by the industrial vehicles. ( see the Map ) for indication of the track (marked in blue). Petition Link:-
I also wanted to show some of you pictures of areas of the mountain you may not have seen. ( See petition for some new pictures )
As it stands the Mynydd-Maen has been chosen as a 'Pre- selected area', through a process that Welsh Government Senedd tend to distance themselves from. The mountain has been portrayed, by some, as an area where not much is happening and its just an area of 'acid grass and pylons with a gas station'.
However you don't have to wander far from the main track and you will see that this is not the case. The area is rich in biodiversity with vast areas (Tonnes) of CO2 storing peat, peat bogs trees and Acres of Heather... A recent programme by Kate Humble showed how much the local people value the Heather on Conwy mountain ( North Wales ). This is because the bees in the area use the mountain Heather for the Nectar to make their Honey. The Honey has a very Sweet Original taste because of the Heather and a Honey festival has been held for hundreds of years to celebrate the Area.
What,s amazing is our mountain has acres and acres of Heather and I'm sure if situated near Conwy would also be a conservation area. Or gain world heritage status for the peat like the Scottish flow country.
Just a few different decisions and mindsets by certain individuals who have ended up 'pre selecting' our mountain. The trouble is most of the people involved in this pre- Selection process couldn't of properly looked at the area and I suspect most decisions have been made from an arm chair without ever visiting the mountain.
Overall The destruction of the mountain area will far out way the benefits of any intermittent electric produced. I hope you can all see that the answer is not intermittent short term energy production. At the very least areas such as large car parks could be used for Solar Canopies and would be far easier to access than our mountain and would be a more obvious and far less destructive choice to make. So why isn't this happening?
The whole 'net zero' argument is steeped in contradictions. With more recent emphasis on using even more electric. Its even starting to be questioned by some of the main stream media... For example..The push for electric cars with their reliance on Lithium batteries is being pushed over Bio fuels that could go straight into Diesel and petrol engines or develop and use Hydrogen engines instead, which some manufactures already have and are holding them back?.
You have to ask why the countryside? I also wonder what will happen to some of the large areas of countryside being taken for these developments. At the end of these short term projects there will be huge convenient amounts of land available that could be used to build houses. The ideas these areas will be returned to their original state seems far fetched as most of the damage will be permanent.
I have been blow away at the response and support this petition has gained and its nice to see how many of you love and want to defend the Mountain. Its the main land mark in the area and has been looked after and appreciated for hundreds of years.
Even though there has been a strange minimal response from officials, I still feel its worth writing to your local councillors, MP's and members of Senedd and raising your concerns on such things as lack of information, impacts, safety and sheer scale etc. You can included the link to this petition if you link.
At the very least it will make them aware of a growing number of people that do not want the mountain destroyed.
Remember to spread the word as there are still people that maybe unaware of these developments.
Many thanks for all your help!