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Anglesey Council is to press ahead with a legal challenge against a controversial solar energy development. A councillor claimed the huge project was the island’s “Tryweryn” where a Gwynedd valley was dammed and drowned in the 1960s to create a reservoir.
In August the Alaw Môn scheme was approved by Rebecca Evans, the Welsh Government’s secretary for economy, energy and planning, If it goes ahead, the scheme will see solar panels installed on 660 acres of farmland between Llantrisant and Llannerch-y-Medd.
Developer Wylfa Green, a subsidiary of Enso Energy, forecasted the electricity produced would be enough to power about 34,000 houses, equivalent to every household on the island.
Permission was granted despite significant opposition from both members of the public and the county council. Residents worried about the loss of prime agricultural land and the potential contamination of Llyn Alaw reservoir.
Following legal advice about the chances of success, the council’s Executive today (Thursday, October 2) agreed to seek a judicial review . The decision comes only days after the Full Council voted in favour of investigating every possible option to challenge the decision.
Anglesey Independents Group leader, Cllr Aled Morris Jones, said the island was left with little option. He said: “We cannot afford to lose valuable agricultural land. This project is akin to drowning an area just like Tryweryn, in this case not with water but with solar panels.”
In her judgement, Rebecca Evans said the scheme’s benefits “outweighed any harmful effects”, referring to the government’s targets to produce 70% of electricity by renewable means by 2030. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community
Council leader, Cllr Gary Pritchard, said the local authority was left “disappointed and frustrated” by a decision that ran counter to Welsh Government policies on protecting high-value agricultural land.
He added: “The proposed development has caused a great deal of worry in our communities and concerns about food safety in the future.”
The council’s stance was also supported by Independent Group Leader, Cllr Ieuan Williams, who said, “I’m disappointed with the minister and the Inspectorate and I think we should do everything possible to overturn this decision made in Cardiff.”
The construction period for the proposed ground-mounted solar development would be around 12 months. It would remain operational for 40 years before being decommissioned.
Enso Energy has offered a community legacy fund expected to contribute about £32,000 a year – worth (£1.28m over the project’s lifetime. Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter – sent every Friday
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