Questions over damage risk to buildings

Questions are being asked as to what assessments have been undertake to ensure abnormal loads carrying wind turbine components through Newtown to the Garreg Lwyd development are not causing damage to properties.

The convoys are due to start passing through along the A483 in Newtown from the 12 September. But Montgomeryshire AM, Russell George, has raised concerns that the Welsh Government has "passed the buck" over setting transportation conditions for the route and is concerned about the impact on some buildings along it.

Similar convoys in Welshpool have had to be kept a certain distance from some properties along the route to another windfarm development. In places they cannot go close to the roadside with properties that have cellars or no foundations.

Mr George has sought clarity over who was responsible for setting the transportation conditions for the Garreg Lwyd windfarm.

Powys County Council has said that the Garreg Lwyd Hill wind farm development was determined at appeal by Welsh Ministers who approved the application with conditions.
 
However, it has been claimed that the Welsh Government failed to place conditions on the developers to survey properties along the transport route in spite of residents’ concerns that the abnormal vehicles would cause damage to properties which are along the A483.
 
Welsh Government  guidance requires all major wind energy planning applications to be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment, which should also consider traffic and access issues incorporated in a Traffic Management Plan.
 
Russell George, AM for Montgomeryshire, has written to the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment & Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths AM, to seek urgent clarity before the full turbine delivery programme begins on 12th September.
 
Mr George, who has been a long-standing critic of the Garreg Lwyd development on transportation grounds, said: “On the one hand, the Welsh Government has confirmed in writing that conditions have been attached to a number of wind farm applications in the area which require developers to complete conditional surveys of the entire trunk road delivery route, which includes neighbouring properties which may be of concern.
 
“However, in spite of this, Powys County Council have confirmed that Welsh Ministers have failed to impose explicit conditions on the developers to survey properties along the proposed route of the Garreg Lwyd Hill wind farm. I therefore question why similar conditions haven’t been imposed on this development.
 
“The Welsh Government say that Powys County Council are the relevant planning authority which should advise on such provisions but Powys County Council rightly say that, as it was the Welsh Government who determined the appeal, it is the Welsh Government’s responsibility with regards to this particular application and they have no authorisation to request that the developers carry out such work.
 
“The buck-passing by the Welsh Government must stop and residents along the proposed route must be reassured by the Minister that developers will conduct a “status of condition” survey on properties before the full turbine delivery programme.
 
“For many years, I have spoken of my deep-seated reservations about this development due to the transport implications. Indeed, on transportation issues alone, the application for the wind farm should have been rejected.
 
“In my initial letter of objection, well before the Welsh Government approved this application, I warned of the potential issues and regrettably they have simply not taken into account the warnings from me and many others.  
 
"Now that the transportation of turbines is imminent, the Welsh Government must take full responsibility for the potential public inconvenience and damage to properties caused by this development.”
 
Penny Vingoe, a concerned local resident, added: “I am particularly concerned about the safety of my property when the turbines start coming through as my property is two metres from the A483 and is around 150 years old. I had already read some time ago that a route through Montgomery was rejected because properties without foundations (like mine) would be at risk.
 
“I have contacted the developers (RES); have written to the County Council and to the Welsh Government, none of whom have given me any reassurance that my concerns are being addressed.
 
“Powys County Council are stating it is the Welsh Government's responsibility, and the Welsh Government are telling me I should contact Powys County Council.
 
“No one will have addressed the issue until it is too late. Meanwhile my property and many others could well be damaged with no recourse to those who are responsible.”  

Photo: A windfarm convoy passes through Welshpool (courtesy Ian Francis)