Energy company forces landowners to court in attempt to gain access for surveying

A small number of landowners attended Llanelli Magistrates Court on Tuesday 22 April as Green GEN Cymru (an arm of Bute energy) applied for warrants to enter their land for surveys as part of their plan to install pylons across some of the most beautiful parts of Wales. Those summoned to court were landowners from both the proposed Towy Usk line and the Towy Teifi line, some visibly upset and distraught as they entered court.

Dozens of community groups gathered outside with their banners to support the landowners and cheered the campaigners who transported a model steel pylon to Llanelli, which was positioned on the grass bank outside the court. The GreenGEN team arrived at court to a slow clap and jeers from the crowd of supporters as some shouted, “shame on you”.

The landowners who faced the court had been singled out from hundreds of other landowners who have been refusing to sign a licence allowing Green GEN Cymru and their associates access to their land for surveying. The surveys are both “ecological” and “intrusive” and have needed to be tweaked more than once, with many landowners still unhappy with what they see as flaws or pitfalls in the paperwork.

No warrants were issued by the judge after the landowners collectively signed license agreements prior to the hearing, following several short court adjournments and threats by GreenGEN via their team for costs which would exceed tens of thousands of pounds per landowner should they lose.

Acting for GreenGEN, Rhodri Williams KC withdrew the applications for a warrant stating that progress had been made, however, with so much opposition from the general public this cannot be seen as a win for GreenGEN, in fact this only deepens the divide between the company, their proposals and the people of Wales.    

This all seems very urgent and premature of the company, as we await the report from the Independent Advisory Group for Electrical Infrastructure which could have an impact on how GreenGEN might undertake the projects they have proposed. It does seem that there is panic in the camp of GreenGEN as they continue with their aggressive approach, this time with issuing court proceedings against landowners.

Community groups and land owners have vowed to continue to oppose the proposals and have extensive public support.