Members of the Senedd for Monmouth and South Wales East, Peter Fox and Natasha Asghar, have written to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) regarding the proposed Solar Farm in Ponthir.
The proposal, which will see over 300 acres of land converted into a solar farm near Ponthir, covering parts of Monmouthshire, Torfaen and Newport, has been the subject of significant local attention and concern.
Both MSs have received correspondence from concerned residents, local groups and stakeholders, following a report that was recently submitted to PEDW by the developer.
The report, known as an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), identifies what environmental factors need to be assessed for the project. Several elements have been requested to be ruled out, causing concern amongst residents.
The concerns raised cover a wide basis, but both MSs have highlighted specific worries about flood risks, agricultural land classification and traffic access, as being the most common themes, and those causing the most worry in the community.
In their joint letter to PEDW, Mr Fox and Ms Asghar highlighted residents’ concerns about certain aspects potentially being ruled out and asked for a reassurance that all community concerns, including those that had been proposed to be ruled out, will be fully considered, before PEDW makes its recommendations to Welsh Government.
Both MSs have been vocal in their support of ensuring local voices are heard during this process and have raised the matter consistently in the Senedd with Welsh Government Ministers.
Local MS for Monmouth, Peter Fox, has said:
“This solar farm has been ever present in my inbox since it was first proposed, and I can appreciate the concerns being raised by locals.
“I have attended meetings with both the developers and the community to listen to the proposals and local views, in order to ensure I am aware of all of the facts.
“I can understand the further anxiety that has been caused in the community by this scoping report being submitted, as people are worried they will not be listened to, and their concerns will be disregarded.
“I hope that PEDW will take all views into consideration before making a decision, and I can assure residents that I and Natasha will do all we can to make sure this happens.”
Natasha Asghar, MS for South Wales East has commented:
“After being made aware the report had been submitted to PEDW, I received contact from my residents, concerned they will not be heard fairly.
“One of the biggest issues I deal with is traffic and congestion, and the fact this is one of the areas looking to be removed seems ill-conceived. This is a small rural area, with limited access and a nearby village, Caerleon, already under an Air Quality Management Area, suggesting a large amount of construction traffic will have a huge impact.”
“Like Peter, I am working hard to ensure PEDW takes all of the community’s concerns into consideration before making a recommendation, and we will work tirelessly to make this a reality.”
