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AM's wind farm claims slammed

An Assembly Member's response to the Scarweather Sands wind farm decision has been condemned as being inaccurate and irresponsible by a leading environmental organisation.

Friends of the Earth Cymru states that the claim made by Tory AM Alun Cairns that the proposal would "destroy the local economy that is built on tourism" [1] is not supported by evidence and is at odds with the conclusions of the inspector's report.

Gordon James, Assembly Campaigner for Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:

"Ever since the Assembly planning committee decided to support the Scarweather Sands wind farm, Alun Cairns has repeatedly stated in the media that it would cause considerable harm to tourism and the local economy. Yet the report of the public inquiry inspector states clearly that this case cannot be made.

On tourism, it states that it is not possible to make certain predictions about any direct effect as the evidence is conflicting[2]. And on the economy, it actually states that there would be benefits to the local economy both in terms of new employment and the use of existing services[3]."

Friends of the Earth Cymru points to opinion poll evidence that supports the inspector's conclusion. An August 2003 Greenpeace poll among tourists in Porthcawl, for instance, found that thirteen per cent would be more likely to return, as opposed to just four per cent less likely to, once the offshore windfarm is built[4].

Similarly, a MORI poll [5] into attitudes towards three wind farms in Argyle in Scotland found that over ninety per cent of visitors said that the presence of the wind farms makes no difference to the enjoyment of their holiday. Over half felt 'positive' about the turbines with only eight per cent feeling 'negative'.

The environmental organisation believes that the wind farm could become a tourist attraction by the provision of boat and angling trips to the turbines, as has occurred in Denmark .

Alun Cairns' claim that the go-ahead for Scarweather would set a precedent for other offshore wind farms to be built off the south Wales coast has also been strongly rebutted by Friends of the Earth Cymru.

Gordon James said of this:

"This claim has more to do with scaremongering than reality. The sites earmarked by the Government for offshore wind developments are mainly in the Wash , the Thames estuary and the north west of England . The only site identified off south Wales as being suitable, in terms of water depth, shipping lanes, proximity of grid connections, environmental designations and so on, is Scarweather Sands."

"The decision by the Assembly's Planning Decision Committee to approve this clean energy project is good news for the environment and the economy. The over excitable comments from Alun Cairns might grab media headlines but they are a serious distortion of the reality of the situation".

Notes

1. Alun Cairns press release 7/7/04

2. Scarweather Public Inquiry Addendum Report Overall Conclusions (page 13 note 61) and Overall Conclusions of the report (page 21 note 125).

3. Addendum Report Overall Conclusions (page 13 note 60)

4. www.greenpeace.org.uk/contentlookup.cfm?&ucidparam=20030826184312&MenuPoint=D-B-C

5. www.bwea.com/media/news/tourism.html