pennant walters (maesgwyn) limited...pennant walters (maesgwyn) limited a025060 - august 2006....

Maesgwyn Wind Farm

Non-Technical Summary

Volume 3

Environmental Impact Assessment

Pennant Walters(Maesgwyn) Limited

A025060 - August 2006

MAESGWYN WIND FARM Non-Technical Summary

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CONTENTS

1.0 Introduction 1

2.0 The Application Site 2

3.0 The Proposed Development 3

4.0 Environmental Effects and Mitigation Measures 4

5.0 Conclusions 15


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Figure 2: TAN8 Location of SSAs

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This document summarises an Environmental Statement (ES), prepared on behalf of Pennant Walters (Maesgwyn) Limited, which accompanies a planning application for the establishment of a ‘wind farm’ on the former Maesgwyn opencast coal site. The application site lies within an upland area to the north-west of Glyn-neath, the location of which is shown on Figure 1.

The proposed development involves a wind farm of 15 turbines, with associated access tracks, two meteorological masts, transformer and sub-station. Each turbine would have a maximum output of 3 MW of electrical power, giving a total capacity at the wind farm of 45 MW. The wind farm would have an operational life of 25 years, at which time it would be de-commissioned and all plant and infrastructure would be removed from the site.

The proposal responds to increasing concerns regarding climate change and global warming. The UK Government has set a target that, by 2010, carbon emissions will be reduced to 20% of 1990 levels. One of the key components in achieving that target is an energy efficiency strategy, which aims to supply 10% of UK electricity from renewable energy by 2010, and 20% of UK electricity by 2020. In order to meet that target, approximately 10,000 MW of renewable energy capacity will need to be installed by 2010, at an annual build rate of over 1,250 MW.

The Welsh Assembly Government is fully committed to Wales playing its part in fulfilling those aims and, as part of the 2010 renewable energy target, it has set an objective of providing 800 MW of renewable energy from land-based wind energy developments, with a further 200 MW to be provided from off-shore wind farms.

The Welsh Assembly Government commissioned an extensive study to identify the most appropriate locations for the development of such wind farms. That study identified seven


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‘Strategic Search Areas’ (SSAs) in Wales, which are considered to offer the best potential for the development of wind farms in terms of environmental issues (including a desire to avoid National Parks and other sensitive landscape, historic and ecological designated areas) and their ability to satisfy technical requirements (notably locations that have an appropriate wind resource). These areas have been defined in Technical Advice Note 8: Planning for Renewable Energy, issued by the Welsh Assembly Government in July 2005 (TAN8), which encourages the renewable energy industry to concentrate proposals for wind farms within the SSAs.

The SSAs are distributed throughout Wales, with one in North Wales, two in Mid-Wales, one in West Wales and two in South Wales. These locations are illustrated on Figure 2. The site which forms the subject of this application lies within SSA E. TAN8 assumes that SSA E has a minimum capacity of 100 MW of generating capacity, as a contribution towards the 800 MW target for Wales. The proposed wind farm at Maesgwyn would therefore make a contribution of 45 MW towards those targets.

A detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been undertaken to examine the potential environmental effects of the development and to describe measures that are available to minimise those effects. The results of the EIA are set out in an Environmental Statement (ES), which has been prepared by a specialist team of consultants, experienced in assessing the environmental impacts of wind farms.

This summary endeavours to provide a brief non-technical account of the full ES. Interested parties requiring further information about matters referred to in this summary should therefore consult the ES and its associated appendices and plans.

The full submission comprises the ES (Volume 1), Appendices (Volume 2), the Non-Technical Summary (Volume 3), and the Application Plans and Figures (Volume 4). Copies of the documents can be inspected at the offices of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Civic Centre, Neath SA11 3QZ during normal office hours.

A full set of the documents is available for purchase at a cost of £125.00, via the applicant’s agent, White Young Green Planning, 21 Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3DQ. The ES, Non-Technical Summary and Plans are also available as Adobe files on CD, from the same address, at a cost of £10.00.

This summary follows the general format of the full ES in describing the site; the proposed development; the potential environmental effects associated with the development; and the measures proposed to reduce any adverse impacts.

2.0 THE APPLICATION SITE

The application site – the boundaries of which are shown on Figure 1 – comprises three main elements: the wind farm itself; the access route corridor from the A4109 road; and the use of existing and improved tracks through the site to access the turbines.

The wind farm site lies at the northern end of a broad rounded ridgeline, between the head of the Dulais Valley and the Upper Neath Valley, along the Hirfynydd upland plateau. The Brecon Beacons National Park lies to the north. The land falls from a high point of 420m above Ordnance Datum (AOD) eastwards towards the Inter Valley Road, to 238m AOD at the site entrance.

The site was previously worked by opencast methods for coal extraction and is now restored mainly to coniferous forestry, with agricultural fields in the east. Within the study area there is an extensive network of tracks, some of which are used for the Wales Rally GB. Open areas within the forestry occur where ponds have been formed and where there is a former coal stocking area.

The landscape of the surrounding area is heavily influenced by human occupation, from the Roman Road and Roman Fort and Camp north of the A4109, to agricultural practices and present day settlements and infrastructure. A network of footpaths and bridleways links settlements and crosses the surrounding hills,


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including some long distance routes. Large tracts of the landscape within and surrounding the study area are designated as ‘access land’ under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

3.0 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

Wind farms operate by using wind turbines to convert the energy of the wind into electrical energy. Air passing over the blades of a wind turbine causes them to rotate. This low speed rotational motion is controlled via a gearbox and is converted into electrical energy by a generator located in the hub at the centre of the blades. That voltage is then passed by cables to the base of the turbine and from there to a substation for onwards connection to the National Grid.

The wind farm development at Maesgwyn would comprise 15 x 3 MW turbines, which would be laid out as illustrated on Figure 3.

The most likely turbine to be used is a ‘Vestas V90’ model, which consists of three blades, mounted on a turbine hub at a height of 65.5 metres. For the purposes of the visual impact assessment, a worst case of a 70 metre height has been modelled, with a maximum height to the vertical blade tip of 115 metres, which is the highest configuration at this hub height.

For the candidate turbine model, the blades will rotate at approximately 8.6 -18.4 revolutions per minute, generating power for all wind speeds of between 4 and 25 metres per second (9-56 miles per hour). At wind speeds above 25 metres per second (56 miles per hour) the turbines will shut down. Such very high wind conditions usually prevail for about 1% of the year.

The turbines would be transported to the site on low-loader HGVs in three or four sections and would then be lifted into position by crane. Turbines would be mounted on a concrete slab base and, following the erection of the turbines, the slab would be overlaid with the previously excavated soils. A temporary construction

compound would be located within the site on the former coal stocking area.

All construction traffic travelling to the site would arrive from the south via the A465(T) and the A4109. The existing entrance to the site off the A4109 would be improved, with 15 metre kerb radii and visibility splays of 4.5 x 215 metres.

The internal access tracks from the site entrance to the wind turbines would be approximately 13.4 kilometres in total, of which only some 4.3 kilometres would be new tracks; the remainder would be existing tracks, suitably upgraded. The tracks would be generally about 5 metres wide, with bends widened up to a maximum of 14 metres. All tracks would be unpaved and constructed from local stone sourced from local suppliers.

The construction programme for the wind farm is anticipated to last for up to 12 months and would consist of the following operations:

• The improvement of the existing site entrance onto the A4109 and the installation of a wheel-washing facility.

• The establishment of a temporary storage compound and temporary site offices on the former coal stocking yard.

• The improvement of existing access tracks and, where necessary, the construction of new access tracks.

• The excavation of the turbine foundations and adjoining hardstanding for future maintenance and decommissioning.

• The installation of the sub-station and internal equipment.

• The construction of a connection to the National Grid.

• The excavation of trenches for power cables alongside access tracks.

• The erection and commissioning of the turbines.


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• The restoration of the temporary operational areas, the removal of temporary accommodation and the clearance and reinstatement of the temporary compound area.

Upon commissioning of the wind farm, routine maintenance or servicing of the turbines would be carried out twice a year, with further periodic inspections as appropriate.

The development has a design life of 25 years. At that time, the site would be de-commissioned and all turbines and other structures would be dismantled and removed from the site via the original access routes. Concrete foundations and hardstandings would be broken up and recovered with soils. Vegetation would then be re-established by natural regeneration, to be protected by fencing until sufficiently established to withstand grazing.

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES

The potential environmental effects of the development have been considered as part of the formal EIA. Full details are set out in the ES (Volume 1), and its accompanying Appendices (Volume 2) and Plans (Volume 3).

The EIA has confirmed that there would be a number of environmental effects which would require either modification to the design of the development or the implementation of measures to eliminate or reduce the extent of potential impacts.

Where possible, those measures have been incorporated into the design of the scheme. Those design measures have included modifications to the footprint of the turbine locations.

The summary tables below identify the key issues associated with the visual and landscape effects, ecology, archaeology, noise, traffic and transportation, electromagnetic interference / shadow

flicker, geology and water and land use. They briefly summarise the scope and key findings of the survey work, the potential effects of the development on the individual environmental topics and, where relevant, the additional measures that are available to reduce the effects.

These tables represent only a very brief summary of a much fuller analysis of the respective topics, which is set out in the ES itself. However, they provide an insight into the issues that have been considered and the comprehensive nature of that exercise.


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LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL EFFECTS Scope and Key Findings Potential Effects Mitigation Measures Assessment

• The majority of the study area is former opencast coal mine restored to forestry and agriculture.

• Seven landscape character areas defined within the study area, ranging from the high-point on the north-western shoulder, through ridges and valleys enclosed within forestry, open areas around water features and a former coal stocking area, to agricultural fields in the east.

• The zone of visual impact (ZVI) is least extensive to the south.

• The main areas with views would be the higher land within the National Park to the north, and enclosing the Neath Valley or overlooking Hirwaun to the east.

• Visual analysis has assessed views from 27 areas, within 5 zones of: nearby settlements and A4109; long distance foot and cycle routes; Brecon Beacons National Park; more distant settlements and roads; other viewpoints.

• The study has further considered the cumulative impact of Maesgwyn with six other wind farms within a radius of 60km.

• Main features that might affect landscape and visual amenity are the 15 turbines.

(a) Landscape • There would be a negligible effect

on the landscape of the site.

• Disturbance to the ground and vegetation would give rise to localised effects.

(b) Visual • Location on the lower northern

end of Hirfynydd reduces potential visual prominence. At over 15 kilometres, the wind farm would be a distant, relatively unimportant element.

• There would be substantial visual impact on the nearby settlements, but reducing to moderate for more distant viewpoints.

• In the open elevated views from the National Park, it would be viewed against the higher land beyond, with moderate visual impact, reducing to slight or negligible with distance.

(c) Cumulative • The cumulative effect with other

wind farms would be that wind farms will become a characteristic of near to mid-distant views, but in many views, the cumulative effect would be negligible or none, with a moderate to slight cumulative effect, where it would be seen in the same angle with Ffynnon Oer.

• Design and layout have aimed to minimise visual impact through avoiding the siting of turbines in very prominent locations, and with the screening benefit of coniferous forest over most of the site.

• The colour of the turbines would be matt mid- to dark grey which would reduce contrast against the background landform in most views.

• The sub-station buildings would be clad in stone, with slate roofs to give the appearance of the local vernacular style.

• Soils would be re-spread over the construction bases and tracks to minimise the extent of the operational area.

• Upon decommissioning, all ground structures would be removed, including the breaking up of concrete foundations and hardstandings, and the re-spreading of soils for natural re-colonisation.

• The wind farm would have a negligible effect on the landscape but would be visible. The degree and significance of visibility is largely a reflection of landform and distance.

• Whether the effect would be perceived as adverse depends on the attitude of the observer.

• Research by the Scottish Executive found that only 12% of residents near a wind farm felt that the wind farm had spoiled the landscape.

• The planning policy objective (TAN8) to concentrate wind farms within SSAs acknowledges and accepts that there will inevitably be both individual and cumulative landscape change and visual effects in those areas.

• The SSAs have been identified as being best able to accommodate such impacts, compared to other areas of Wales.

• The identified visual and landscape effects must therefore be considered in that context.


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ECOLOGY Scope and Key Findings Potential Effects Mitigation Measures Assessment • Ecology studies undertaken include:

vegetation and habitats surveys; passage/breeding birds (2005-06), wintering birds (2004-05 and 2005-06); and targeted bird surveys (2006) including vantage point surveys; protected species surveys; bat surveys; and pond surveys.

• There are no statutorily designated

sites for nature conservation within or immediately adjacent to the study area.

• The predominant land use is plantation

woodland at various stages of development. There are man-made ponds and old surface water lagoons.

• The main impacts are likely to be on

birds. Five protected species of bird (peregrine, red kite, hen harrier, goosander, nightjar) are recorded as flying within the study area.

• No badger setts were found within 100

metres of any turbine location. Surveys for red squirrel, pine marten and brown hare were not thought to be necessary.

• A pond survey was undertaken in

Spring 2006. No great crested newts were found.

• The development would have no impact on the Coedd a Mellte SAC, which is the nearest statutory site.

• The development would have

no impact on any of the sensitive/priority habitats that have been identified within the extended study area.

• Ponds are identified as a priority

habitat in the LBAP, but any loss or temporary reduction in biodiversity would be restricted to within the site.

• Plantation woodland would be

lost through clearance for turbines and tracks, as would some areas of improved and other low value grassland. These habitats are of low intrinsic nature conservation value and their loss would not be significant.

• The construction phase could

impact on birds through loss of habitat, especially tree felling, and disturbance.

• The most significant impact on

birds is likely to occur during the operational phase.

• The extended study area is not

used as a major flight path by resident or passage birds and does not attract large wintering or breeding flocks of sensitive

• The scheme has been designed to avoid areas of sensitive habitat.

• An environmental management plan

would be produced to minimise impacts through the pollution of ponds and watercourses.

• Specific management of peripheral

plantation woodland would encourage nightjars to use part of the study area for breeding.

• Felling would be undertaken outside

the main bird breeding season and checks made for nesting crossbill.

• If nightjars and/or honey buzzard are

shown to be breeding within 250 metres of a turbine/access track, work at those locations would be programmed for the end of the breeding season.

• If reptiles are found to be present,

specific mitigation measures would be necessary to ensure that those species were not harmed.

• During construction and decommissioning, the overall impact would be very limited on habitats and most species. These impacts are assessed as not significant and do not require mitigation.

• There is potential for significant

impact on three bird species: nightjar, honey buzzard and crossbill. Mitigation would reduce the risk of impact such that there should be no significant risk to these species.

• During operation, there is a small

but identifiable risk to honey buzzard and peregrine. This risk is low but, should it occur, it could be of national significance for honey buzzard.


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ECOLOGY Scope and Key Findings Potential Effects Mitigation Measures Assessment

groups. The wind farm could lead to displacement of peregrine, hen harrier, red kite, honey buzzard and nightjar.

• Impacts on breeding nightjar

could be regionally significant, but is considered unlikely and can be mitigated.

• Collision risk is difficult to

quantify, but preliminary calculations indicate there is the potential for an annual mortality rate of the species studied in depth but in the case of most sensitive species this is a low risk: 0.06 peregrines and 0.05 honey buzzards.


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ARCHAEOLOGY Scope and Key Findings Potential Effects Mitigation Measures Assessment • The study has comprised: (i) A desk based assessment using

published sources of information to determine the nature, extent, preservation and importance of archaeological and cultural heritage features.

(ii) Consultations with relevant bodies. (iii) Field investigation to verify the findings

of the desk based assessment. • The site itself does not contain any

Scheduled Monuments or Listed Buildings and it is not located within an Historic Landscape Area.

• The archaeology of much of the study

area has been disrupted by opencast mining.

• The sites of two barrows, an early

medieval grave marker and two possible findspots of Bronze Age artefacts were present within the study area. No evidence of them now remains and these sites are likely to have been destroyed by subsequent mining activities.

• The line of a Roman Road crosses the

study area, but has been largely destroyed by opencast mining.

• Two Scheduled Monuments – a

Roman fort and a Roman marching camp – lie to the north of the study area.

• There would be no direct impacts on any Scheduled Monument, Listed Building or Historic Landscape Area.

• The construction of an access

track might affect any surviving Roman Road deposits in the south-western part of the study area.

• Turbines would be visible from

the two Scheduled Monuments to the north of the study area.

• Turbines and tracks have been located to avoid direct physical impacts on identified features.

• An archaeological watching brief

would be carried out during the construction of the access track to turbine 1, where it crosses the known line of the Roman Road, in order to record any surviving archaeological deposits that might be disturbed.

• The construction of one access track would have a slight adverse impact on any surviving Roman Road deposits in part of the study area.

• The wind turbines would be visible

from two Scheduled Monuments to the north of the study area. However, the views would be distant and in a direction where the views have been previously disrupted by power lines. The impact is assessed as neutral.


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NOISE Scope and Key Findings Potential Effects Mitigation Measures Assessment • Measurements of existing

background noise levels were undertaken at six dwellings surrounding the proposed wind farm.

• These dwellings were identified

as the potentially most sensitive and were agreed with the Environmental Health Officer of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.

• The noise measurements were

correlated with the onsite wind speed and used to set the ETSU-R-97 limits for ‘quiet’ daytime noise levels, a range of 35 dB to 40 dB LA90 or the measured prevailing background noise +5 dB, whichever is the greater.

• Noise limits for night time

operation (sleep disturbance) were set at 43dB LA90, or the prevailing night time background noise level +5 dB. A limit of 43 dB equates to internal noise level of 30-35dB LAeq with windows open, and 20-25dB LAeq with windows closed.

• Limits compared to predicted

noise levels associated with the wind farm at various wind speed conditions, based upon worst case assumption of type of turbine.

• Predicted noise levels due to turbine operation meet the derived noise criterion at all properties surrounding the development

• For a number of the assessed

dwellings predicted internal noise levels due to turbine operation during the night (sleep disturbance) may exceed 30 dB LAeq with windows open.

• In all cases, the predicted wind

farm noise levels would meet requirements of ETSU-R-97 for night-time operation and, due to traffic flows and/or water noise in those locations, existing levels already exceed 40dB LAeq.

• Turbines have been sited to minimise any potential noise impact on surrounding dwellings.

• No additional mitigation measures are

considered necessary.

• Predicted internal noise levels may exceed recognised sleep disturbance levels at some of the dwellings monitored, but existing noise levels at those locations already exceed 40dB LAeq. Predictions are based on worst case assumptions and from a down wind condition.


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TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION

Scope and Key Findings Potential Effects Mitigation Measures Assessment • The route to be used by

construction traffic would be the A465 Trunk Road and the A4109. These routes form part of the strategic road network and are subject to frequent HGV movements.

• Access into the site would be

from an existing junction on the A4109 and would be improved. Within the site, existing access tracks would be improved and some new ones created

• Existing two-way traffic flows on

the A4109 (2003) during the period 07.00 – 19.00 were 1745 light vehicles and 967 HGVs.

• An increase in HGV flows of

30% or more would require a detailed assessment of traffic effects.

• Development would require

deliveries of plant and equipment, roadstone for access tracks, ready-mixed concrete for turbine bases and mobile cranes to erect the turbines.

• A detailed assessment has

been undertaken of the traffic generated by each activity during the construction phase.

• The construction period would last for up to 12 months overall.

• Construction traffic would be

concentrated in a 7 month period, commencing with the delivery of roadstone in months 2 and 3. Turbine delivery would take place in months 5-9.

• The impact of construction traffic

has been calculated in percentage terms relative to background traffic in the construction year (2007).

• The percentage increase has

been assessed as between 12% (days with no concrete deliveries) and 28% (days with concrete deliveries). In both cases, the traffic impact does not warrant a detailed assessment of its effects.

• The assessment is based on the

predicted worst-case month; other months would be subject to fewer traffic movements.

• Following construction, the traffic

associated with the operational phase would be minimal.

• A wheel wash facility would be installed at site entrance to avoid vehicles carrying mud onto the public highway.

• Deliveries of abnormal loads would be

timed for quiet periods, with police escort if appropriate.

• Specific travel routes and timed

periods to and from the site would be defined for delivery vehicles.

• A Traffic Management Plan would be

implemented, to regulate overall vehicle movements.

• Access routes to and from the site are considered acceptable to accommodate the traffic that would be generated.

• The percentage increases in HGV

flows are confined to limited periods and are below the threshold where detailed assessment is required.

• Traffic management measures

considered to be appropriate and enforceable in regulating vehicle flows would be implemented.



ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE AND SHADOW FLICKER

Scope and Key Findings Potential Effects Mitigation Measures Assessment Electromagnetic interference • TV, radio and mobile telephones

rely upon sending and receiving electromagnetic waves from a large transmitter to a small receiver. The transmission of these waves relies upon an unbroken line of sight between transmitter and receiver.

• Wind turbine towers and the

moving blades can interfere with the waves.

• Extensive consultations have

been undertaken with those organisations that might be affected by electromagnetic interference.

Shadow Flicker • At certain times of the year, with

appropriate weather conditions, operating wind turbines can create a flickering shadow caused by the passing of turbine blades in front of the sun. Houses located further than ten times the rotor diameter (in this case 900 metres) are unlikely to experience adverse effects. Normally, for properties between 500 and 900m metres, any flicker effects are very brief in nature.

Electromagnetic interference • No objections received from

telecommunications’ consultees. • In some cases, the quality of

analogue TV reception may be affected.

• Any effect would be short term,

as analogue TV broadcasts are programmed to cease by 2009, to be replaced by digital signals.

Shadow Flicker • A small number of dwellings are

located within 10 rotor diameters (900 metres) of a wind turbine and might be subject to shadow flicker.

• Some of the potentially affected

dwellings are derelict or uninhabited; those at Banwen are orientated at almost 90° to the turbine and would be unaffected; other potentially affected dwellings are over 750 metres from the turbine and towards the outer limit.

• Any possible effect is further

reduced by weather conditions, turbine orientation, hours of operation and other factors.

Electromagnetic interference • Any effect on analogue TV signals

would be the subject of detailed investigations. Any interference is capable of being rectified by modifications to the existing relay stations, which would be undertaken by the Applicant.

Shadow Flicker • Potentially significant effects of

shadow flicker can be mitigated by switching off the affecting turbine at appropriate times of the day.

Electromagnetic interference • The study has concluded that it is

unlikely that telecommunications infrastructure will be affected by the development.

• Development may have a limited

impact on analogue TV reception, but standard measures are available to mitigate such impacts.

Shadow Flicker • The potential effects of shadow flicker

are low and can be satisfactorily mitigated, if necessary.



GEOLOGY AND WATER Scope and Key Findings Potential Effects Mitigation Measures Assessment • Over 90% of the study area

comprises former and existing opencast mining and made ground.

• The site lies within a ‘minor

aquifer’ (groundwater storage area) associated with the Coal Measures, but no ground water abstraction licences exist within the study area.

• Surface water from the study

area flows via carrier drains into the Nant Pergwm and the Neath River.

• The main geological constraint to the development is that the reworked ground across the site may preclude the use of traditional foundations. Piled foundations and/or ground treatment might have to be used.

• Surface water effects could arise

from increased run-off during the construction of access tracks and the excavation of turbine foundations.

• Potential exists for spillage of

concrete residues and fuel. • Drainage /interference of near

surface ground water table during excavations.

• Boreholes would be sunk in the location of each turbine to confirm local ground conditions and to determine appropriate foundation design.

• All turbines would be located at

sufficient distance from steep slopes to avoid stability issues.

• Existing access tracks would be used

wherever possible to avoid disturbing surface water run-off.

• Trackside ditches would be

constructed where necessary to provide storage and reduce run-off rates.

• Designated areas would be identified

for fuel storage and concrete truck wash-out.

• Best site working practices would be

used.

• Layout of the turbines has been designed to minimise potential geological and surface water and ground water effects.

• Implementation of specific mitigation

measures during the construction phase will ensure that any impacts will be minor and quickly controlled, with no significant negative impact.



LAND USE Scope and Key Findings Potential Effects Mitigation Measures Assessment • The site contains some land of

Grade 5 agricultural quality, which is the lowest grade.

• Little of the site is in agricultural

use. • The site is crossed by a number

of public rights-of-way. A substantial proportion of the study area is also designated as ‘access land’ under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

• Apart from the annual Wales

Rally GB, the site and the immediately surrounding area are not a tourist destination.

• The development is unconstrained by agricultural land quality or farming considerations.

• Turbines would be readily visible

from the public rights-of-way network and access land.

• Evidence from tourism studies

elsewhere indicates that wind farms are not a negative factor affecting tourism in an area.

• Appropriate safety and security steps would be taken during the construction phase, particularly in the vicinity of public rights-of-way.

• Interpretive information could be

provided during the operational period to encourage access to the area and public understanding of the wind farm development.

• The overall effects on agriculture / farming interests are considered to be negligible.

• The wind farm would be a dominant

feature to users of the public rights-of-way network, but whether the significance would be negative or positive will depend on the attitude of the observer.

• The effect on tourism is considered to

be neutral, but could be potentially slightly beneficial.



5.0 CONCLUSIONS

This Non-Technical Summary provides a summary of the proposed wind farm development and an outline of the potential environmental effects which could be associated with the development.

The summary highlights the measures that have been incorporated into the design, which has sought to embrace environmental issues and technical constraints, and the further measures which could be adopted to minimise environmental effects.

The overall conclusion is that the development could proceed without giving rise to adverse effects of such significance that a refusal of planning permission would be justified on environmental grounds.

In reaching that conclusion, it is important to recognise that all wind farms will give rise to some degree of environmental effect. Usually, the key environmental issue is likely to be one of visual/ landscape impact, both in terms of the individual effect of the development and, in this case, the cumulative effects with other existing and permitted wind farms.

The assessment of such impacts at Maesgwyn has considered the effect from near, mid and distant viewpoints, and has acknowledged that the impacts would range from significant to small, largely based upon distance. However, whether those impacts would be perceived as adverse depends on the attitude of the observer.

Any conclusion on this topic must be considered in the context of the policy objective of the Welsh Assembly Government to concentrate wind farms into defined locations (SSAs). The implementation of that strategy will inevitably result in the creation of a series of ‘wind farm landscapes’ as part of a desire to avoid

the development of wind farms within areas that are deemed to be more sensitive to landscape change.

That SSA strategy is itself part of a commitment to a substantial increase in renewable energy, to be provided by wind farms, as part of the aim for renewable energy to supply 10% of UK electricity by 2010 and 20% of UK electricity by 2020.

Ultimately, it is a matter of balance and judgement in weighing the acknowledged need for the development against the environmental effects that would be associated with it.

In the case of Maesgwyn, with the exception of visual effects and potential effects on certain birds, it is noteworthy that no other important adverse effects have been identified in relation to any of the other environmental topics that have been studied.

In those circumstances, and the inevitability that (i) all wind farms are likely to give rise to some degree of visual and landscape effects, and (ii) the implicit acknowledgement that such effects are more acceptable in the SSAs than elsewhere, then it is the view of the applicant that the balance weighs heavily in favour of allowing the development to proceed.

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