Wind turbine site 'will spoil Mynyddislwyn view' (From Campaign Series)

Wind turbine site 'will spoil Mynyddislwyn view'

10:20am Thursday 14th March 2013 in News

CONCERN: Clive Payne, Linday Payne and Henry Chivers outside St Tudor’s Church in Mynyddislwyn

LOCALS believe the view from one of Caerphilly county’s most beautiful spots could be ruined if plans to put two wind turbines nearby are given the go-ahead.

The grade-two listed St Tudor’s Church at Mynyddislwyn is on a centuries-old site, surrounded by rolling hills.

But, a planning application was made to Caerphilly council to place two wind turbines – with a hub height of 40 metres and maximum blade tip height of 55 metres – within 500 metres of the church.

Linda Payne said that Nelson’s Column in London is 52 metres tall, while the bar across Newport’s Transporter Bridge is at a height of 54 metres.

She said: “We are all in favour of wind turbines, but on a small scale. These could be higher than those two landmarks and we really can’t visualise what they will look like in what is a beauty spot and near a very traditional church.”

Every Christmas, a cross is lit up on the mountainside nearby, which can be seen for miles around. Mrs Payne said locals don’t want the festive tribute to be replaced as Mynyddislwyn’s most prominent visible landmark.

A planning application was made for the two turbines at Cwmcaesingrug Farm, Mountain Road, with letters sent to local residents last month informing them of this.

They had until Tuesday to make a comment on the plan.

The application was made for Porthcawl-based MDA Renewables by Crumlin-based agent John Dacey.

When contacted by the Campaign, he declined to comment on the application, simply confirming it had been made and saying: “It is in line with National Government and Welsh Government policy on renewable energy.”