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Pylon plans could spark mass social unrest - Plaid

Gwyn Loader
Chief correspondent, Newyddion S4C
Getty Images Line of electricity transmission pylons receding into the distance, in a green field. There is a copse of trees on the right and another visible on the left in the distance. Getty Images
Three major pylon routes are proposed through the Welsh countryside, each spanning several miles

Civil unrest could break out if a company continues to try to access land by force for its plans to raise miles of pylons through rural Wales, a politician has warned.

Green GEN Cymru confirmed it had applied for court warrants to access private land by force after landowners refused its initial applications.

The renewable energy firm told BBC-produced Newyddion S4C it made 11 applications to gain access to land to complete surveys and that court hearings had been confirmed on 7 and 14 April.

In a statement, it said it was trying to work positively with individuals and communities and had a legal right to access land as an Independent Distribution Operator Network.

Adam Price, Plaid Cymru MS for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, warned the company to reconsider.

He said: "We are staring at a situation where if the community continues with this strategy, we will see scenes of mass social unrest and opposition to these plans.

"Why threaten legal action against individuals within communities? Let's take a step back and have some dialogue."

Dyfan Walters lives near one of the company's proposed paths of pylons, on the outskirts of Llandovery in Carmarthenshire.

He said he refused the land access application and was not afraid of being summoned to court.

Mr Walters said: "It is going to change the landscape of the area completely.

"From the research we have done there is a better way to do it.

"People are already in court. This is the beginning, everyone feels so strongly."

Dyfan Walters standing in a green field, where green sheds are visible in the background, with trees and more agricultural fields in the distance. He is wearing a blue and green chequered shirt and has grey hair and short stubble.
Dyfan Walters says he would back plans to put cables underground

Mr Walters said he believed it was possible to put cables underground with a cost which "is very similar" to the erection of pylons.

"I can't understand why someone would want to move forward with the pylons when the community would be willing to work with them to put the cables underground," he said.

Green GEN Cymru said it was "acting now to build and operate a green energy network for Wales" that would "tackle the energy crisis, the climate crisis and the cost-of-living crisis".

It was proposing three major routes of pylons through the Welsh countryside in Powys, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, each spanning several miles. The projects are named Towy-Teifi, Towy-Usk and Vyrnwy-Frankton.

Despite initially agreeing to be interviewed, the company's representative withdrew a few hours before the interview was due to take place, citing political criticism of their proposed legal action and a wish to be consistent in their messaging.

In a statement, Green GEN Cymru said electricity infrastructure was of national significance, and as such it had a legal right to access land.

It said it had been working positively with communities and had offered to pay for independent professional advice for landowners as well as offering financial compensation for any damage to land which occurs during its surveys.

New grid infrastructure is urgently required as Wales' electricity needs grow, it added.