Minister’s shame as fair country despoiled
THE Minister for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, pursuing some blinkered crusade to “save the world” by trashing the unique landscape of upland central Wales (not to mention Denbigh Moors and elsewhere) seems to think she knows better than the planning inspector, Powys CC and the local community. She has blatantly and arrogantly ignored the outcome of a public inquiry and has single-handedly sanctioned the destruction of some of the most stunning and beautiful scenery in Powys.
By giving the go-ahead to Hendy wind farm she will be guilty of despoiling a very special landscape and one of the truly awe-inspiring views in Wales.
Yet another tract of precious upland will be industrialised, yet another vista unwilded.
Indeed, so much of upland Wales has already suffered at the hands of wind farm developers that it is becoming increasingly difficult to stand at elevation without seeing ranks of turbines where once open, far-reaching views existed.
Views for which Wales was renowned.
For anyone travelling into Wales along the A44 from Kington, the view to the west as one descends the hairpins between Fforest Inn and Llandegley is one of those “Wow” moments. A vista that takes one’s breath away regardless of how many times one travels the route. A panorama that changes with the light and weather conditions and one that is a showcase for Wales.
A view of Wales that a Minister for Rural Affairs should be proud of and strive to protect, not exploit and plunder. Astonishingly, she admitted to not having visited the area to see what effect a cluster of turbines 110m tall will have!
Sadly, considering the other crass decisions Lesley Griffiths has made regarding wind turbine locations it is obvious that she has a total lack of interest in safeguarding one of Wales’ key assets... its landscape, and a mind-boggling disdain for such wonderful places.
Her legacy will be the wrecking of Wales’ moorlands and uplands, blighting some of our finest views and allowing untold damage to our heritage.
She may not appreciate the exquisite high country of Wales but many of us are passionate about it, as are thousands of tourists.
It certainly isn’t my vision for my homeland and I feel sad that this now seems to be its fate.
I have spent over 50 years climbing and walking throughout Wales, the rest of the UK and abroad and consider the Welsh hills unsurpassed. I am fortunate that I have experienced “wild” Wales but disheartened that my grandchildren will probably only see it in books.
Wynford Vaughn Thomas, who wrote so eloquently about the history and geography of central Wales and rode and walked these hills, must be turning in his grave.
Lesley Griffiths would do well to remind herself of the Welsh National Anthem:
Old Land of the mountains, paradise of the poets,
Every valley, every cliff a beauty guards; Through love of my country, enchanting voices will be
Her streams and rivers to me. Ralph Goddard Lower Hergest Herefordshire