Apart from the numerous windfarm applications the area is also under review for the siting of a sub-station covering approximately 20 acres ? a substantial development in its own right.
Grid connection will, of course, mean miles of overhead cabling and large pylons, thus exposing serious health concerns.
Opposition to this mass industrialisation of such rural area is growing and many feel government and developers have been very short sited in their planning and thinking. Such structures in open countryside are inappropriate.
Little, or no consideration has been given to infrastructure. Wind power construction can have profound and irreversible effects, not just on the sites themselves but for miles around.
The following points need serious consideration:
? New access roads
? Peat disturbance
? Hydrology
? Habitat loss
? Concrete pollution
? Collateral damage ? impact on road networks on adjacent villages
? Effects on tourism
? Grid connection and positioning of pylons
? Rights of way blocked, disrupted or damaged

The National Grid Mid Wales Connections project is currently at the 'pre-application' stage of our process, as set out in the Planning Act 2008. During the pre-application stage, there is a duty on the developer to undertake consultation with people living in the vicinity of the proposed project, and to have regard to responses to that consultation. In order for comments to be taken into account at this stage, comments and responses should be directed to National Grid as the developer of the project.
The IPC's role at the pre-application stage is to provide advice about the process of making an application, or the process of making a representation about an application. Whilst we are happy to be copied in on any comments you make to the developer, we are unable to provide legal opinions or comment on the merits of the scheme or national policy. This ensures the impartiality of the IPC and protects the interests of all parties involved in the application process. All advice that we give is recorded via an advice log, in line with s.51 of the Planning Act 2008. This log is published on our website. attachment 1
With the above in mind, may I therefore suggest that the queries set out in your letter are raised directly with the promoters of the Mid Wales Connection schemes where appropriate. The National Grid project team can be contacted on 0800 019 5325 or by email at national [email protected]. There is also a project website; attachment 2 .
Your local council also plays a role in the process at the pre-application stage and we would encourage you to copy to the council any comments you send to the developer at the pre-application stage. Further information on this and how you can be involved in the developers? consultation is detailed in advice note 8.2, this can be found at: attachment 3.
Once the pre-application consultation duties are complete, the developer may submit an application to the Commission. The Commission has 28 days to decide whether to accept the application to proceed to the examination stage. This decision is based on whether, amongst other matters, the pre-application consultation has been adequate. When making a decision on whether the pre-application consultation has been adequate, the Commission will have regard to:
? National Grid?s consultation report;
? Any comments on the adequacy of consultation submitted by relevant Local Authorities; and
? The extent to which National Grid have followed the guidance published by the Commission and the Secretary of State.
If an application is accepted for examination by the Infrastructure Planning Commission, you are able to become directly involved in the examination of an application. A suite of advice notes has been published providing information on how and when members of the public can become involved in the planning process and have their say. In particular, advice note 8.3 provides information on how to register and make a written representation. This can be found at: attachment 3.