Communities from Bishton and Magor gathered at a public meeting organised by Gwent Wildlife Trust to oppose massive solar power stations that will damage the fragile and complex landscape of the Gwent Levels forever.

The two developments in question, the so-called Craig-y-Perthi in Bishton and Magor Net Zero are 240 hectares and 53 hectares respectively, consisting of hundreds of thousands of up to 17-foot high panels and enormous batteries.

The developments are proposed on and adjacent to SSSIs – which are the most important, complex and fragile ecosystems in the UK, and teeming with wildlife.

Mike Webb, planning manager for Gwent Wildlife Trust says, “Extremely high levels of pollutants are being found inside and near solar power stations, in some cases several times higher than NRW’s threshold guidelines. These pollutants include heavy metals and oil. The beautiful and endangered lapwing has already been driven to extinction on the Llanwern solar plant area on the Levels, illustrating categorically that habitat cannot be mitigated for.

Furthermore, these plants are described as ‘temporary’, but in reality temporary means 40 years, with planning applications to extend the life of the powerstations extremely likely to be permitted beyond that.”

The Gwent Levels stretch from Chepstow to Newport to Cardiff, incorporating a network of SSSIs  and 900 miles of rare and invaluable waterways known as reens, supporting much endangered flora and fauna. The area is also a hugely important historic landscape containing a host of archaelogical features.

Should all the proposed solar power stations be built, they will be six times larger than the Levels nature reserves put together.
 
Mr Webb adds, “We are not opposed to solar energy, but we maintain that these developments should not threaten SSSIs.  Just 12 per cent of the land and coastal areas of Wales is a SSSI, so these areas should be sacrosanct.”

Mark Campbell, representing the Bishton village campaign group resisting the Craig-y-Perth solar power plant, says, “The footprint of this development is massive, it will totally engulf the village.  Despite what has been claimed by the development company, there will be no benefit for our community whatsoever.

The building of this plant will cause huge disruption: noise, lighting, roads, but the havoc won’t stop there, as a plant of this size will need constant maintenace, so the disruption will be permanent. The nature and wildlife that makes the place so special to us will disappear. Habitat cannot be compensated for, and the community cannot be compensated for the negative impact this development will have on our life and wellbeing.”

The Gwent Levels is facing an unprecedented number of development proposals. In addition to the solar power stations, huge business parks also threaten the landscape.

In order to draw a red line under development proposals, Gwent Wildlife Trust is calling for a halt to significant development on the Gwent Levels until full, formal protection for this irreplaceable landscape has been agreed – a call supported by well-known conservationists such as Iolo Williams, Lizzie Daly, Mary Colwell and Julian Hoffman. A Senedd petition to that effect is currently running.
 
Mike Webb concludes, “Over the years, the Gwent Levels have been treated with disrespect, developers have seen the area as fair game, and we have already lost so much.  That makes what’s left even more precious and fragile, and the need to defend it even greater.”

Senedd petition: Gwent Wildlife Trust is asking that everyone who loves this special landscape sign and share the Senedd petition.

Halt significant new development on the Gwent Levels SSSI

Please add your name by clicking here. Signing this e-action means that, while being fully aware of the threats posed by the Climate and Nature Emergencies, you call on the Minister and the Senedd to take measures to halt significant new development on the Gwent Levels.
 
Further information about Gwent Wildlife Trust: Gwent Wildlife Trust – www.gwentwildlife.org
 
Press information: Nerys Lloyd-Pierce 02920 343 121/07701007128