Family-run holiday park threatened by pylon route

A holiday park’s future is being threatened by an overhead electricity distribution connection which is proposed to run near Llansantffraid, its owners have claimed.

The plans to develop a 132kV electricity distribution connection to connect proposed wind farms in Montgomeryshire to the National Grid in Shropshire, are being highlighted during Wales Tourism week (May 12-18) as a risk the future to the hospitality industry’s future.

The plight of business owners is being shared by Montgomeryshire MS, Russell George who said the industry makes a “significant contribution to the mid Wales economy”.

He met with Ed and Sam Williams who own Bryn Vyrnwy Holiday Park in Llansantffraid, a family farm for over 75 years with a holiday park being developed over the last 35 years.

The Williams family say that a proposed electricity connection project on an overhead line on steel pylons will threaten the future of their business.

He was joined on a tour of the business by local Powys County Councillor Gwynfor Thomas and said afterwards: “The proposed electricity connection project on an overhead line on steel pylons, with an average height of 28.5m, will pass in front of the holiday park.

“The Williams family have spent over a generation investing and growing the business, and the developers seem to have had little consideration of what their plans will do to businesses like Bryn Vyrnwy Holiday Park, and others tourism businesses in the area.

“During Wales Tourism week, I again want to make the case that transmission lines should be underground, opposed to overground when being built in sensitive areas. People come to holiday in north Powys because they are surrounded by fantastic views of the mid-Wales countryside.

“It was a pleasure to meet with the three generations of the Williams family, and it’s clear that Green GEN Cymru’s projects will have a significant detrimental effect on the viability of the business, which the Williams family had hoped would continue to run within the family.’’

Mr Williams added: “The proposed electricity connection project on an overhead line on steel pylons is threatening the future of our family business.

“Our holiday park has five separate static caravan parks situated within 120 acres of beautiful countryside. People holiday at the park because of the peace and tranquillity, and because they are surrounded by the rolling Shropshire and Welsh hills, with fantastic views of the stunning mid-Wales countryside.

“When I raised our concerns with Green GEN Cymru at the recent consultation event, they did not seem to grasp the significant negative effect the pylon route will have on our holiday park business.

“My parents are still active in helping to run the park alongside myself and wife, Sam. Our two young children are also involved in the business. The pylon route being so close to the park risks the opportunity for our children continuing to run the park in the future, if that is what they choose to do.”

Cllr Thomas said following the tour: “From the size and scope of Green GEN Cymru’s project not being appropriate for our area, and running so close to the village of Llansantffraid. I have other concerns that there will be greater risks caused from flooding, because of the impact from large amounts of concrete that will be used to build the pylon foundations. 

“The river in front of the park, already comes close to some of the static homes, and this could exasperate the issue further.”

Green GEN Cymru say the developments are needed to help the UK provide more environmentally-friendly power in the future. But they have a fight on their hands once again to get their plans passed.

PICTURE (from left): Russell George MS, Frankie, Dougie, Sam and Ed Williams. The proposed route would be visible in the background from left to right, behind the holiday homes.