Thank you for arranging the drop in session at Pencader on Jan. 6th '12. The
location was much more convenient for the residents of Gwyddgrug and Alltwalis. We appreciated how
pleasant and helpful the staff were, and the procedure needed to register was explained adequately.
But on reflection I do feel apprehensive following that evening as no record was taken of the points and queries raised by residents ....... I appreciate that it would have been difficult to take a written record, but in this day and age of advanced technology we would have felt happier if our viewpoints and the responses had been recorded.
We would expect all I.P.C. representatives to have familiarized themselves with the area concerned -
and would have at least known that a development of ten turbines ( 110 mtrs. the biggest in Wales
so far) became operational in the area just 2 years ago, and that the site would share boundary lines with the proposed Brechfa forest west wind power station. The problems caused by the Alltwalis power station are still unresolved, which explains our great concern about the cumulative effect of such industrialisation of our beautiful countryside; particularly with two other developments having been applied for with Carmarthenshire County Council simultaneously.( 70 turbines altogether - including the existing ten!)
It is imperative that site visits and meetings with local people take place in the early stages of the examination period - desk top analysis would be inadequate in this instance. It is important that the existing Alltwalis wind power station and location of turbines should be included in all maps of the area. (They have not been included in RWE Npower newsletters or maps)

Thank you for your email and comments concerning the recent outreach event held at Pencader.
With regard to your concern that no record was taken of the points and queries raised by residents: As we had explained at the event, IPC staff are barred by law from engaging in discussions about the merits of an application. We therefore have emphasised repeatedly that people need to put anything that they would like the Examining Authority to take into consideration in the examination of this case into their representation. It is for the residents themselves to set out in their representations any impact they feel the proposal will have on themselves and the local area. The purpose of the outreach events is for the IPC to advise on how to make a relevant representation and to explain the 'IPC process'. Please be aware that the opportunity to make a relevant representation which registers an individual as an interested party closes on 18 January 2012. This also means that any hard copy representation form must be received by the IPC by the 18 January 2012.
Your second point which raises the cumulative effect of other potential and existing developments in the area also relates to the merits of the application and is a matter for the Examining Authority to assess as part of the examination process. Whether a site visit is required and the form it should take is for the Examining Authority to decide following the Preliminary Meeting. Interested Parties can make submissions on this and other matters relating to how the application is to be examined at the Preliminary Meeting.
These points are explained in greater detail in the IPC Advice Notes 8.1 - 8.5 which you may have picked up at the outreach event. These are also available from the IPC?s website (please see the link below) or I can send you a hard copy in the post if you would find that helpful.
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