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South Wales Argus
7 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Could massive solar farms damage the Gwent Levels?
The call comes as the Welsh Government considers a new application to build a solar farm on the ecologically sensitive Gwent Levels. Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) is currently reviewing the controversial Wentlooge Solar development. The proposed 318-acre site has sparked fierce debate, following damning evidence of environmental destruction caused by a similar solar project at Llanwern. Geoff Devlin of Stop Craig y Perthi—a campaign opposing another proposed solar farm near Bishton—said: "To influence debate in the Senedd, people need to be aware of and discussing the key issues. There is now clear evidence of serious environmental damage caused by the Llanwern solar site, and people must pressure politicians. It's the only way to influence those in the Senedd." PEDW is ruling on the Wentlooge site after operators RWE appealed a previous rejection under Development of National Significance (DNS) rules. The Welsh Government's 2019 declaration of a climate emergency may bolster RWE's case, as the site could be seen as contributing to climate policy goals. The legal battle coincides with a Welsh Government-commissioned study into the Llanwern solar plant—built entirely within two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)—which revealed catastrophic impacts on wildlife and water quality. Lapwing breeding pairs dropped from eight to two, with no successful nesting recorded in 2023. Shrill carder bee and brown-banded carder bee populations plummeted, likely due to herbicide use and failed wildflower planting. Bat activity declined sharply. The rare Eurasian crane, once seen as a hopeful returnee to the Levels, has vanished. The report also highlights dangerous pollutants—including cadmium and lead—leaking into the reens and ditches, vital waterways that support otters, water voles, and rare aquatic flora. These findings were presented at PEDW hearings, raising urgent questions about whether mitigation measures can ever succeed in such a fragile ecosystem. Gwent Wildlife Trust CEO Natalie Buttriss stated: "Mitigation has failed catastrophically. The proposed Wentlooge site is even larger than Llanwern and poses an even greater threat to this irreplaceable landscape." Campaigners emphasize they are not opposed to solar energy, but argue that developments must avoid nationally protected areas. Only 12% of Wales is designated as SSSI, and these fragments, they say, should be sacrosanct. With vast areas of non-designated land available, they urge the Welsh Government to redirect solar projects away from sensitive habitats. The Gwent Levels—often dubbed Wales's Amazon—are home to a rich mosaic of wildlife. Magor Marsh, a flagship reserve of Gwent Wildlife Trust, preserves one of the last remaining pieces of natural fenland in Britain. From cuckoos and warblers to kingfishers and wintering teal, the area supports biodiversity year-round. The reens, unique to the Levels, remain a haven for water voles—one of the UK's fastest declining mammals. Public support for protecting the Levels is growing, with backing from naturalists Iolo Williams, Gillian Burke, and Lizzie Daly, and authors Julian Hoffman and Horatio Clare. As PEDW prepares its decision, campaigners warn that approval could set a precedent for industrial-scale development on protected land. Meanwhile, green energy giant RWE still operates lignite power stations in Central Europe. Lignite is a highly invasive and inefficient source of carbon energy. RWE has committed to phasing out all lignite sites by 2030.
South Wales Argus
13-05-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Newport MS John Griffiths speaks out against solar farms
In a speech to the Senedd on Wednesday, Mr Griffiths highlighted the area's significance as a wildlife haven, describing it as "Wales's Amazon." He said: "Almost a fifth of Wales's most important site for wildlife is on the Gwent Levels—and a big chunk of the Gwent Levels is in my constituency of Newport East. "Across the landscapes and watercourses of the Levels, there is a rich assemblage of biodiversity, which is critical to the area and its future." Mr Griffiths praised the efforts of organisations such as the Gwent Wildlife Trust for their work in reintroducing species like the water vole to the area. He said: "The grips, ditches, reens, and main rivers provide a safe and thriving habitat for a whole range of different species, including the water vole, which I am pleased to champion here in the Senedd. "And through the work of organisations such as the Gwent Wildlife Trust, they have been successfully reintroduced back into sites such as Magor Marsh nature reserve, and have then spread outwards from that particular location." However, Mr Griffiths expressed concerns about the threats posed by large-scale solar farm developments. He said: "There are very real threats to the Levels, particularly at the moment, from developers looking to take forward large-scale solar farms, taking advantage of the area's topography and closeness to the grid. "This has caused a great deal of concern to the Wildlife Trust, local communities, and environmental groups in general." Research by the Gwent Wildlife Trust found that if all the current solar development proposals were built, up to 19 per cent of the total area of the Levels' Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) could be within development boundaries. This would amount to approximately 1,038 hectares. Mr Griffiths acknowledged the need for more renewable energy projects but stressed the importance of location. He said: "We all know, of course, and we all say it, and it's very true, we do need more renewable energy projects; we need very many more; and hopefully we'll be fully dependent on renewable energy in the UK and in Wales before too long; and solar energy will have a very important part to play. "But, you know, it's often said, but it's very true to say, and it needs to be said, that obviously, developments always have to be in the right place, and I believe very strongly that the Gwent Levels is not the right place." He pointed to the existing solar farm at Llanwern on the Levels, where the Welsh Government's post-construction monitoring report found declines in lapwing numbers, key bee species, and bat activity. Mr Griffiths concluded: "I think it's quite clear that if further solar applications are allowed to go ahead, we risk detrimentally changing the nature of this incredibly important area for biodiversity, for cultural heritage, and for unique landscape; changing it for good and destroying the vital biodiversity that we are so lucky to have on our precious Gwent Levels."
