Swansea Valley mum blasts delays as turbine delivery affects school run
A SWANSEA Valley mother has blasted the developers of a wind farm after the transport of its huge turbines delayed the school run.
The mum who does not want to be named said huge lorries heading towards Mynydd y Betws Wind Farm, near Pontardawe, caused her to be 25 minutes late picking up her diabetic six-year-old son.
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The blade for one of the giant wind turbines passes through Pontardawe
She said traffic was at a standstill for half an hour leaving her late getting to Rhyd-y-Fro Primary School.
She added: “My son is a diabetic so normally the first thing he has when he comes out of school is a little snack to keep him going.
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“I was in a bit of a panic and I didn’t have a signal on my phone.”
She was coming from Ammanford when she was stopped by traffic police near Abernant.
“The police just cut off the traffic with no explanation and we were stuck there for around half an hour,” she said.
“I think it’s disgusting, all the hours they have in the day and they did it at that time.”
Pontardawe councillor Linet Purcell, who has campaigned against any disruption in her ward, said: “I have been assured again and again that no turbines would be travelling through Pontardawe during the school run. The last convoy is supposed to arrive on site at 3pm to avoid disruption.
“Despite this, a convoy carrying a turbine tower passed Rhydyfro primary at 3.20pm at the exact time that the children were leaving school.
“We have been asking questions and trying to anticipate and avoid these problems for more than 12 months and have been constantly reassured by the developers that rules were in place — that they were very experienced — and that all would be well.
“And yet, only six working days after these runs begin we have this absolute chaos. We have had to take their assurances on trust. How can we continue to trust them if this is allowed to happen?”
A spokesman for the developer said: “We would like to sincerely apologise for disruption caused to local schools and residents by a delayed turbine component delivery to the wind farm site on Thursday coinciding with the school finishing time.
“We have launched a full investigation into the delay but initial findings indicate that the delivery in the afternoon was delayed by logistic issues with the turbine manufacturer. We would like to assure residents that we have now put additional measures in place to ensure that future deliveries will not coincide with school finishing time.”
geraint.thomas@swwmedia.co.uk
01792 514621
Comments
by Neathboy234
Sunday, September 23 2012, 9:49AM
“siarad2 Have you never heard of global dimming. Have u not seen the news over the past week. The summer ice melt at the north pole is now at it's greatest extent in the last 10,000. Over 50% greater than in 1979.
You talk about France, It would seem that your information is duff, or perhaps you didn't understand what was being said. My advice to U is if your not sure, try reading things twice, or out-loud, that helps as well.
Only this week it did away with it's wind power zones(areas when turbines could only be built). From now on wind turbines can be built anywhere.
Just a few days ago President Francois Hollande said that France plans to get 23 percent of energy consumption from renewables by 2020 compared with 13 percent at the end of 2011. President Francois Hollande also said last week that electricity from wind and sun offer "huge potential" for clean energy and job creation and he pledged to ease development regulations.”
by siarad2
Saturday, September 22 2012, 8:40PM
“@Neathboy234
Still living in the past there's been no rise in the Earth's temperature since 2005, so all the experts you worship have been proven wrong
It's just a con trick to raise taxes & give profits to the ruling companies.
Why has France enacted new laws to make it difficult to site new wind turbines, why has Germany cut the subsidies, why is Denmark making big losses on wind energy making their electricity price twice ours.
At the moment the total UK wind power is 0.263GW enough to boil 120k kettles, not quite enough for each in NPT”
by Neathboy234
Saturday, September 22 2012, 2:42PM
“swanseajock If we could only harness all the hot air of the climate deniers then we'd be fine. In the meantime we'll just have to keep building more and more and more wind turbines.
BTW i was driving through the Neath Valley yesterday, hardy any wind and the turbines were spinning around very nicely.”
by swanseajock
Saturday, September 22 2012, 2:36PM
“At the end of the day we have to look at the big picture that for the next 25 years these green giants will be producing clean electricity...........if the wind blows, or doesn't blow too hard!”
by Neathboy234
Saturday, September 22 2012, 2:30PM
“there is always going to be some form of inconvenience whist moving these large wind-turbines. At the end of the day we have to look at the big picture that for the next 25 years these green giants will be producing clean electricity.”
by slim2010
Saturday, September 22 2012, 12:09PM
“These turbines travel many miles over many hours.
There will always be an inconvenience to someone around school run times.
As a diabetic I understand the need for regular meal breaks but 30 minutes should not have caused any problems.
I think the mother was more concerned about being delayed for 30 minutes, the transport company should of course apologise to her for the lack of a phone signal :)”
by Jiffy
Saturday, September 22 2012, 11:49AM
“How dreadful for the children. Missing half an hour of playing on their computers.”
by BobDavies2
Saturday, September 22 2012, 10:31AM
“The developer obviously has a huge logistical task getting these blades to site, maybe a good idea to liase with local schools and advise on when distruption could be an issue, the school could then inform parents, and appropriate action taken.”