The legal conflict between landowners in Wales and Green GEN Cymru, a subsidiary of Bute Energy, has escalated as the energy firm seeks to construct a series of pylon highways to connect wind farms to the national grid. Landowners from five farms have been summoned to Llanelli Magistrates’ Court after refusing access to their land for survey work necessary for the project. The pylon routes aim to transport electricity across 60 miles from mid Wales to a substation in Carmarthen.

The Towy-Usk and Towy-Teifi routes are among the three planned, with the former running from Nant Mithil to Llandyfaelog, while the latter stretches from Lan Fawr to Lampeter. A third route, known as the Vyrnwy-Frankton route, will also be part of the project. Following the planning application stage in 2026, construction could begin as early as the following year, with the intended goals of these schemes to be operational within two years.

At the court session, held on April 7 and 14, landowners Amanda Daniels, David Daniels, Dylan Davies, Idris Davies, Wendy Edwards, Daniel Jenkins, David Phillips, and Elinor Phillips challenged the energy company’s efforts. Represented by lawyer Aled Roberts and backed by Plaid Cymru MP Ann Davies and MS Adam Price, the landowners reiterated their concerns that the pylons would detrimentally affect tourism, disrupt the natural landscape, and infringe on community welfare. Notably, the court hearings have been reported as highlighting a “David vs Goliath” conflict, reflecting the disparities in resources between the farmers and the energy firm, which deployed a considerable legal team.

As the hearings progressed, Green GEN stated that agreements had been reached with three of the five farms, enabling access for surveys. However, two cases remain pending as landowners requested to conduct their proceedings in Welsh, leading to adjournments until April 22. Outside the courthouse, more than 50 supporters rallied against the pylons, brandishing placards bearing messages like “No pylons.”

Local residents expressed their frustration regarding the plans. Craig Vaux from Llanllwni noted the potential for widespread legal actions against up to 600 landowners who could be summoned for similar refusals. Meanwhile, Nicola Edwards from Llandovery emphasised the adverse impact the project could have on local economies, asserting that alternative solutions, such as underground cables, should be prioritised.

Community sentiments resonated with Simon Davies from Llandeilo, who observed that while there is support for renewable energy, many residents oppose the disruption such infrastructure might bring to their lives.

In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for Green GEN Cymru articulated their commitment to engaging with landowners, stating, “It’s important that we can access land to conduct environmental surveys so the potential impacts of our projects are fully understood.” The spokesperson also mentioned that compensation offers had been extended to landowners for any inconvenience during the survey processes.

The company defended its strategy for overhead pylons, noting that underground installations would lead to increased land disruption and environmental consequences. Green GEN plans to evaluate the feasibility of underground measures in sensitive areas but currently maintains that the overhead option remains the most effective for timely project delivery. The overarching position from the Welsh Government suggests a preference for underground cabling where practicable, balanced against the financial viability of projects.

This ongoing legal battle underscores the complexities surrounding the implementation of renewable energy infrastructure and the tensions between energy development and landowner rights in rural Wales.

Source: Noah Wire Services