Residents in a Carmarthenshire village are unhappy with the potential installation of a 60 mile pylon route through the Welsh countryside.

Green Gen Cymru, the sister company of Bute Energy, is planning to run pylons through the countryside from Radnor to Carmarthen.

However, last Thursday (April 11), more than 600 people attended Green Gen Cymru’s consultation to protest the development.

South Wales Guardian: Over 600 people attended Green Gen Cymru’s consultation on April 11Over 600 people attended Green Gen Cymru’s consultation on April 11 (Image: Llandovery Pylon Steering Group)South Wales Guardian: Children protested outside The Castle Hotel in Llandovery.Children protested outside The Castle Hotel in Llandovery. (Image: Llandovery Pylon Steering Group)

South Wales Guardian: The message was clear by protesters 'No Pylons.'The message was clear by protesters 'No Pylons.' (Image: Llandovery Pylon Steering Group)

Dyfan Walters, Co-chair of the Llandovery Pylon Steering Group, said: “We asked for your support and boy did you deliver – we as a group would like to thank you as a community.

South Wales Guardian: No farmers no food.No farmers no food. (Image: Llandovery Pylon Steering Group)

South Wales Guardian: People of all ages attended the protest to voice their concerns.People of all ages attended the protest to voice their concerns. (Image: Llandovery Pylon Steering Group)

“Bute are definitely leaving town this evening with their tails between their legs. We need to stick together and continue this fight to get these cables underground!

South Wales Guardian: Adam Price MS (centre) with local councillor Handel Davies (right)Adam Price MS (centre) with local councillor Handel Davies (right) (Image: Llandovery Pylon Steering Group)

“The consultation was so well attended with over 600 people present throughout the afternoon to voice their concerns.

“This included the march from the school to the Castle Hotel where the next generation made their feelings known to Bute.

"The message was clear, these cables need to be underground, and we are not going to stand by and allow our community to be ruined.”

 

South Wales Guardian: Children from the village marched to the Castle Hotel during the protest.Children from the village marched to the Castle Hotel during the protest. (Image: Llandovery Pylon Steering Group)

 

South Wales Guardian: Green GEN Cymru had a frosty reception from locals.Green GEN Cymru had a frosty reception from locals. (Image: Llandovery Pylon Steering Group)

 

South Wales Guardian: Residents are in disbelief that pylons are still being considered with technology available locally to get the cables underground quickly and efficiently.Residents are in disbelief that pylons are still being considered with technology available locally to get the cables underground quickly and efficiently. (Image: Llandovery Pylon Steering Group)

Meanwhile, local MP Jonathan Edwards has called for council councillors to use their leverage over the creation of a new electricity substation at Llandyfaelog.

Mr Edwards said: “I hope Senedd members will grow a backbone and strengthen policy to protect our communities. Locally, we must use all the leverage we have. 

“Planning power over the proposed substation to serve these pylon developments lies with Carmarthenshire County Council. 

“I am urging councillors on the planning committee to look at this issue in the round and consider the proposals by National Grid Electricity Transmission as part of the wider package including pylons.”

“I appreciate that guidance by Welsh Government and Officers will try and bind their hands and tongues. But now is the time to make a stand.  Politics is the art of using whatever leverage you have to achieve your aims. 

“This application is the one chance Carmarthenshire Councillors have to influence the wider debate surrounding pylons.  Let’s hope they grasp it.”

Green GEN Cymru's response

A spokesperson for Green GEN Cymru said: “We want to make sure Wales has the energy it needs in a net zero world. Much of the existing electricity network infrastructure in Wales was built many years ago to transport energy from old fossil-fuel power stations in the north and south.

“The existing network in Mid Wales does not have nearly enough capacity to connect all the new renewable energy we need for our homes and businesses, locally and nationally.

“That is why Green GEN Cymru have recently released revised plans relating to our proposed Towy-Usk connection.

“Following an extensive consultation programme in spring 2023 where we consulted local people on our preferred route, we have carefully considered all feedback and revised our proposals. 

“This includes three significant changes. Firstly, we’re proposing to place 5.5km of the route underground as it crosses the Towy Valley, near Llanarthne.

“Secondly, we propose using wooden poles instead of pylons for approximately 12km of the route between Builth Wells and the Nant Mithil energy park.

“And thirdly, we have proposed routing along the north side of the Towy valley between Llandovery and Llandeilo. This would reduce impacts on the village of Llangadog and the Brecon Beacons National Park. 

“We are glad to have welcomed so many people to our recent consultation events to give us their views on the project.

“We would encourage people to provide additional feedback to help us improve the design of the project.

Green Gen Cymru's next consultation on the Towy-Usk project is open until Wednesday, May 8.