Name ……………………………………..
Address……………………………………
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Post code…………………………………
Date :……………………………………...
David Owen
DC Case Officer (Planning)
Planning Services
The Environment Department
Civic Centre
Oystermouth Road
Swansea
SA1 3SN
Dear Mr Owen
Planning Application 2008/1781
Site Address : Mynydd Y Gwair, Swansea
Please accept this objection to the proposal detailed in this planning application.
My particular concerns include the following:
Landscape	Tick Box
Threat to open access nature of the common
Negative cumulative impact on the landscape, especially as turbines are already present at Ffynnon Oer, and proposed for Mynydd Betws
Recreation and Enjoyment
Disruption, risk of injury, and threat to their recreational enjoyment, for members of the public using this open access common, including ramblers, horse riders and balloonists
Damage to tourism in the immediate area e.g., Ramblers, bird watchers, visual impact from the existing Gower ANOB and the Brecon Beacons National Park
Unacceptable increase in traffic during construction, maintenance and decommissioning of turbines
Safety
Proximity of turbines to roads (e.g.. Risk of driver distraction)
Safety concerns, e.g. ice fall from blades and risk of fire in the event of lightening strikes. The former could lead to road closures / injury, the latter is a particular concern owing to the presence of both grassland and peat; if a fire takes hold it could burn for weeks and spread over a very large area
Economic impacts
Infrastructure concerns, e.g. concerning large loads, negative impacts on roads, access to hospitals, schools etc
Multiple risks to the local economy
Ecology
Damage to and disturbance of peat, that locks down carbon, and which makes this an irrational location to site wind turbines
Damage to and disturbance of blanket bog, a priority habitat under both the UK and Local Biodiversity Action Plan
Reinstatement would not be complete/adequate. Turbine foundations, etc, are left in place even if turbines are decommissioned, and peat takes an exceedingly long time to form
Risk of landslips, owing to former mining activity in the area, and changes to the hydrology of the area if construction were to occur
Hydrology issues / negative impacts on the catchment area for the Upper Lliw Reservoir and damage to source of two rivers. Damage to springs that Farms and dwellings rely heavily on
Risks to many species protected by European and other laws, including otter, red kite, skylarks and several species of bats
Commoner's Issues
Threat to commoners livelihoods and way of life, e.g. owing to disruption of hefted flocks
Threat to livestock / animal welfare issues
Risks associated with a change of permitted land use for the site to general industrial use, e.g. future uses (post turbines) of the land
Threat of joy riders accessing wind farm tracks
Any further comments :
I urge you to refuse permission for this planning application
Yours sincerely
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