The Welsh First Minister has been challenged by a local AM to show leadership and condemn the intimidation tactics that have been recently used by agents of National Grid in Mid Wales.
Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, took his opportunity during weekly First Minister’s Question Time to raise the concerns of several residents in Llansantfraid, who have recently experienced bullying tactics from the agents working on behalf of National Grid, as they issued a number of legal notices for forced access on to their land.
Mr George outlined the experience of one 86yr old women, who when challenging one of the men to show his ID and prove who he was, was met with a volley of foul and abusive language. The AM said that this behaviour was disgraceful and totally unacceptable and asked the First Minister, Carwyn Jones, to denounce it in the strongest terms.
Mr Jones said that these were very serious allegations and that he would investigate them fully with National Grid and would write to the AM in due course.
Commenting, Mr George said:
"I welcome the First Minister’s commitment to investigate these disgraceful activities further with National Grid.
"He recently said that the renewable energy industry must engage and work with local communities to deliver long-lasting benefit for those communities hosting wind farms.
"Are threats and intimidation going to be the level of engagement that the industry is going to subject communities in Mid Wales to until it gets its way?
"When it comes to forcing the infrastructure associated with onshore wind onto reluctant communities it seems to be a case of anything goes and it’s important that the Welsh Government and the Welsh people know what is being done on their behalf."