Latest news with #Nimbys
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Letter: Powys communities are fighting to save ecosystems
I'm astonished at some of the simplistic thinking around windfarms and the proposed wholesale industrialisation of so many of our remaining wild areas, particularly here in the Cambrian Mountains. Yes, of course we need to stop fossil fuel extraction and of course we need to develop non ecologically destructive and exploitative forms of renewable energy production. But the current rash of multinational driven schemes are both environmentally damaging and grossly exploitative. Just because they're 'renewables' – although that's highly debatable when land is an ever scarcer resource on a finite planet – doesn't automatically make them OK. We're in a climate and a biodiversity emergency. We separate one from the other at our peril. The current biggest contributor to biodiversity loss is human activity and the destruction of habitat. The preservation of natural ecosystems and their carbon sequestering benefits is our major bulwark against climate change. And yet most of the windfarms in Wales are proposed on that most precious of remaining natural resources – peatlands – which sequester more carbon than all the world's rainforests combined. Windfarm developers blithely refer to 'restoration' and 'avoiding deep peat' – but peatlands are an ecosystem developed over thousands of years, with deep peats dependent upon shelves of shallower peats grading into peaty soils. If you destroy any part of this ecosystem the deeper peats dry out and die – releasing huge amounts of stored carbon in the process. Would your readers feel it was a good idea to build giant windfarms in (what's left of) the Amazon? Do they consider the Sami people of Norway - who were supported by Greta Thunberg in their fight against windfarms on their lands - Nimbys? If we weren't so in thrall to money and big business, we might ask ourselves why we are not adopting available smaller scale schemes that provide power for communities where it is actually needed, and which work with nature rather than against it. In the same way as we could feed everyone in the world without industrial factory farming and all the damage that does to our planet, so we can provide everyone with their fundamental energy needs without sacrificing our remaining wild spaces to massive industrial wind and solar farms. Why are we attacking those very communities who are defending local lands, and ecosystems, together with space for all the other species we share this planet with? Have we really learned nothing?
Telegraph
09-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Miliband to steamroll Nimbys with new pylon powers
Ed Miliband is preparing to make it harder for landowners to block pylons on their property as the country races towards net zero. The Energy Secretary has launched a consultation on relaxing planning rules to make it easier to build electricity infrastructure on private land as he seeks to speed up construction. Under the proposals, measures will be introduced to give energy developers greater scope to overrule landowners – making it more difficult to stall vital developments. It comes as Mr Miliband scrambles to meet his highly ambitious target of reaching a clean power system by 2030, which involves a significant increase in electricity use as the country weans itself off oil and gas. The National Energy System Operator (Neso) has estimated that £60bn worth of upgrades are needed across the electricity network under Labour's plan for a clean power system, including some 600 miles of overland power lines. The consultation comes after Mr Miliband vowed last year to 'take on the blockers, the delayers, the obstructionists' amid a government push to stamp out objections from Nimbys, which stands for 'Not in my back yard'. Sir Keir Starmer earlier this year vowed to put an end to 'challenge culture' by 'taking on the Nimbys and a broken system that has slowed down our progress as a nation'. The Prime Minister also said building pylons in rural areas was a necessary step to bring down the cost of electricity, as part of his drive to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Under Mr Miliband's proposal, consents and access rights for network operators would be revised so they can build and maintain electricity infrastructure on private land with fewer delays. Proposed reforms include changes to 'necessary wayleaves', a process that allows electricity companies to install infrastructure such as pylons or poles if they cannot reach an agreement with landowners. Under those changes, companies in England and Wales could be granted necessary wayleaves for 40 years – nearly tripling the current duration of 15 years. They would also be given double the amount of time to counter any formal landowner requests to remove network lines from their land, from three to six months. There were 412 applications for necessary wayleaves in 2024, with the number expected to rise. Virtual hearings on applications have also been proposed and it has been suggested that the responsibility for felling or lopping trees should be with the electricity network operators, rather than with the landowners. The consultation is being carried out after a preliminary investigation by the Conservative government in 2022 suggested that negotiations over land rights led to significant delays and additional costs to delivering clean energy projects. Michael Shanks, the energy minister, said: 'These reforms will address avoidable hold-ups in the land rights and consents process, that are leading to unnecessary costs and delays in connecting clean, homegrown electricity to the grid. 'This is part of this Government's plan to build an energy system that can bring down bills for good, and deliver on our Plan for Change to bring growth, green jobs and put more money back in people's pockets.' In addition, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has proposed upping the maximum size for substations that can be built from 29 to 45 cubic metres. The department said this was aimed at reducing the need to build two smaller substations next to each other. Other reforms involve changes to consents for overhead pole lines, including increasing the heights and nominal voltages of poles, and making it easier for developers to access adjacent third-party land even if their landowners oppose it. A blow to rural Britain Jackie Copley, campaigns lead for CPRE, the countryside charity, said that there is a 'need for reform of land access rights and consents to progress quickly enough', adding that 'one can understand why the Government will be looking to streamline the process'. 'This consultation offers more clout to energy developers,' she said. However, she said that much of the land affected would be rural, and 'without a shadow of a doubt, there are going to be impacts on our landscape'. She said: 'Clearly, there is an implication for landowners and for existing farmers. What you don't want is for the speeding up rights of energy providers to have [any] impact on rural activity. 'You want to do both. You want to make sure rural places can still produce food and get on with [their] business.' Existing pylon plans are already provoking objections from locals. Farmers in rural Wales, for instance, are fighting Mr Miliband's nationwide pylon rollout by refusing to let an energy company on to their land.
Wales Online
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Welsh council's 20mph speed limit decision gets 'revert back' verdict
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info North Wales Live readers have been debating Ceredigion County Council's decision to uphold the 20mph speed limit on county roads. Following a thorough review, the council chose to maintain the speed limits implemented in 2023, a move that has divided public opinion. This comes after the Welsh Government altered its guidance on where exception roads - those permitted to retain a 30mph limit - can be located. It is anticipated that there will be a significant increase in exception roads, which is hoped to alleviate some of the opposition to the default limit introduced in September 2023. Ceredigion County Council stated it had carried out an extensive review of the 20mph speed limits across the county, during which they received 62 individual comments. The council reported that of these, 23 were in favour of the new 20mph limits, 20 called for changes to the national policy, 16 objected to the existing 20mph limits on county roads, and eight referred specifically to Welsh Government-managed Trunk Road locations, over which the Council has no control. One reader, Cooperman1927, comments: "When will people realise we have just been hoodwinked into thinking changes will be made. Use your vote at the next election and make your voice heard." Toxteth O'Grady adds: "Absolutely disastrous net zero policy disguised as a life saving law. Vote Labour out." Outofhere believes: "These councils are a law unto themselves. They serve no one except themselves." Pay1233 says: "We are blessed, in some areas of Birmingham, it's 15mph." Simondc feels: "So as it appears you fully support this bad law, let us see how many of these councillors survive next year's vote? I beg people for once in your lives vote, but vote after reading what each candidate offers. Please don't vote historically but vote for the candidate that aligns with your views, not anyone else. If you don't vote then you cannot argue that the wrong candidate was elected as every vote counts?" Indigodebz believes: "If it was just about saving lives there would be repeater/reminder signs in the 20mph zones like in England. There would be much greater compliance if 20mph was attributed to just residential areas, schools and the like." Steamnut writes: "They say they took the views of the 63 respondents into account. They didn't listen to thousands of views before it was implemented did they? In truth, doing nothing saves the council money. Roll on the elections next year." Sobchak believes: "Okay, let me put it another way. If you've got time to worry about something as petty as this then you must have an empty life." Jet11 says: "Main roads are for driving on not playing on, 20mph past schools is fine, but most roads that were 30 mph should revert back, the way the Nimbys are going they will have everybody back on pony and traps. Then they will complain about the horse mess left behind." Joebloggs999 adds: "Pedestrians need to concentrate when crossing roads, not play on their phones and assume it's always somebody else's fault, another import from America, we are now a suing state!" Ian Papworth thinks: "This is good news. 20 mph will not affect tourism and will increase road safety. 20 mph is being adopted across many tourist destinations across Britain and Europe (some are even Tory!). If you can't drive at a consistent 20 then you need to take test again. This speed limit applies to less than 35 percent of Welsh roads." Do you agree with the council on the 20mph speed limit? Comment below or HERE to join in the conversation.
North Wales Live
12-06-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Live
Welsh council's 20mph speed limit decision gets 'revert back' verdict
North Wales Live readers have been debating Ceredigion County Council's decision to uphold the 20mph speed limit on county roads. Following a thorough review, the council chose to maintain the speed limits implemented in 2023, a move that has divided public opinion. This comes after the Welsh Government altered its guidance on where exception roads - those permitted to retain a 30mph limit - can be located. It is anticipated that there will be a significant increase in exception roads, which is hoped to alleviate some of the opposition to the default limit introduced in September 2023. Ceredigion County Council stated it had carried out an extensive review of the 20mph speed limits across the county, during which they received 62 individual comments. The council reported that of these, 23 were in favour of the new 20mph limits, 20 called for changes to the national policy, 16 objected to the existing 20mph limits on county roads, and eight referred specifically to Welsh Government-managed Trunk Road locations, over which the Council has no control. One reader, Cooperman1927, comments: "When will people realise we have just been hoodwinked into thinking changes will be made. Use your vote at the next election and make your voice heard." Toxteth O'Grady adds: "Absolutely disastrous net zero policy disguised as a life saving law. Vote Labour out." Outofhere believes: "These councils are a law unto themselves. They serve no one except themselves." Pay1233 says: "We are blessed, in some areas of Birmingham, it's 15mph." Simondc feels: "So as it appears you fully support this bad law, let us see how many of these councillors survive next year's vote? I beg people for once in your lives vote, but vote after reading what each candidate offers. Please don't vote historically but vote for the candidate that aligns with your views, not anyone else. If you don't vote then you cannot argue that the wrong candidate was elected as every vote counts?" Indigodebz believes: "If it was just about saving lives there would be repeater/reminder signs in the 20mph zones like in England. There would be much greater compliance if 20mph was attributed to just residential areas, schools and the like." Steamnut writes: "They say they took the views of the 63 respondents into account. They didn't listen to thousands of views before it was implemented did they? In truth, doing nothing saves the council money. Roll on the elections next year." Sobchak believes: "Okay, let me put it another way. If you've got time to worry about something as petty as this then you must have an empty life." Jet11 says: "Main roads are for driving on not playing on, 20mph past schools is fine, but most roads that were 30 mph should revert back, the way the Nimbys are going they will have everybody back on pony and traps. Then they will complain about the horse mess left behind." Joebloggs999 adds: "Pedestrians need to concentrate when crossing roads, not play on their phones and assume it's always somebody else's fault, another import from America, we are now a suing state!" Ian Papworth thinks: "This is good news. 20 mph will not affect tourism and will increase road safety. 20 mph is being adopted across many tourist destinations across Britain and Europe (some are even Tory!). If you can't drive at a consistent 20 then you need to take test again. This speed limit applies to less than 35 percent of Welsh roads."
Metro
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Locals against a solar farm being built say calling them Nimbys is 'hate speech'
People opposing the building of one of Europe's largest solar farms have said the term 'Nimby' is hate speech. Botley West Solar Farm could cover about 2,470 acres of countryside in west Oxfordshire and power 330,000 homes if approved. But Save Botley West says this would affect 15 villages as well as water meadows and heritage sites across Botley, Woodstock and Kidlington. The anti-solar farm campaign group's chairman, Professor Alex Rogers, has said calling them Nimbys 'alienates' them. Nimbys – 'not in my backyard' – are people who oppose new, sometimes badly needed housing or infrastructure being built near their homes. Sir Keir Starmer wrote in the Metro in January that his government is 'taking on the Nimbys' who 'clog up our system so things can't get built'. Prof Rogers said: 'We've heard the term Nimby bandied about by the Labour government in particular, effectively that is pejorative language deliberately used to alienate and isolate ordinary people who are legitimately concerned about the really serious impacts of what is, in effect, a non-sustainable project. 'I would view a sustainable project as one which obviously benefits the climate, which this does, but also benefits people who live in the region and benefits wider aspects of the environment – and this scheme certainly does not do that.' A website appearing to poke fun at Rogers' group, 'Botley West NIMBYS', was made in 2023, according to internet archives seen by Metro. It says: 'Look, our place is much more special than yours, so you should have all the stuff we don't like near YOU.' Rogers added: 'I do have a message, particularly for the Labour Party, in respect of the use of 'Nimbys' or 'Nimbyism'. 'If you look at the UN definition of hate speech, the use of that term falls within that UN definition, and I think Labour would be appalled if people were using these sorts of terms to alienate other sections of society.' The UN defines hate speech as discriminatory and offensive forms of expression, often targeting people's race, gender, sexuality or class. Save Botley West joined a nationwide walk to protest the farm on Sunday, walking from Blenheim gates to Churchill's grave in Bladon. They wrote to King Charles last month, asking him to intervene on the grounds of an 18th-century law that says the Crown must be consulted to use the land. The King has yet to reply. Developers Photovolt Development Partners say the two million solar panels are vital to meet the government's climate goals amid ever-worsening climate change. The past 10 years have been the 10 hottest in nearly 200 years, with 2024 the hottest on record, fuelling climate-related disasters worldwide. Burning fossil fuels is the main driver of climate change, which is intensifying storms, flooding, heatwaves, wildfires and droughts in the UK. Rogers, a marine biologist at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, says he sees the impact of this in the ocean 'every day'. But he said the solar farm, roughly the size of Heathrow Airport, would impact the area's view. He said: 'Because of the nature of the landscape that this has been put into, which essentially comprises river valleys and hills, it's very, very difficult to conceal this solar farm in the landscape.' Council officials said in an impact report last week that the solar farm would likely have a 'negative' impact on local tourism. The plans are at the examination stage, where representations are being submitted, with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to make the final decision. Three-quarters of Britons would support a solar farm being built in their local area, a YouGov poll found. There are around 1,3000 operational solar farms in the UK, with solar providing 6% of Britain's energy in the past year, according to the National Grid. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page.
