PLANS to put up a single wind turbine on land at Ferwig as the first stage in a community energy project for the Cardigan area have been dropped.

The Awel Deg/Fair Wind cooperative announced the decision after landowner Huw Jones withdrew.

This is the group’s statement:

‘As a group Awel Deg/Cardigan Fair Wind are naturally disappointed that a project that we believe would greatly benefit the people of Cardigan is not now proceeding. However we entirely understand Huw’s decision to withdraw in the light of the huge pressure he and his family has been under in recent weeks. We would also like to thank Huw for the amount of time and effort he personally has committed to developing this project.

‘Over the last couple of months we have consulted people widely in the local area and have heard a wide range of strongly held views, the vast majority of which have been in favour of developing renewable energy projects such as this for the benefit of the local community.

‘We believe that many of the fears that have been so strongly expressed, particularly from Golf Club members and some local residents are greatly exaggerated. However, in the light of Huw’s decision and what we have heard we feel it is right not to continue with this particular project.

‘This is one of the many differences between Awel Deg as a responsible community group and an outside developer who would not be as responsive to the feelings of the community.

‘We have kicked off an interesting debate locally about the need to develop sustainable forms of electricity generation, so that we can become less dependent on climate changing fossil fuels.

‘We continue to believe that it is right to explore the many options for developing local sources of renewable energy for the benefit of the community, including for example, anaerobic digestion, biomass, solar and wind. Over the coming months Awel Deg will continue to explore how this could best be achieved locally.

Bearing in mind the ‘fracking’ developments that are tearing communities apart in other areas of the country we all need to reflect long and hard on what is the best way forward for us all.