Powys holiday park's future under threat from pylon plans
A Powys holiday park has said its future is under threat from pylons planned to serve multiple windfarms.
Ed and Sam Williams own and run Bryn Vyrnwy Holiday Park in Llansantffraid.
Bryn Vyrnwy has been 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 family-run business.
'The proposed electricity connection project on an overhead line on steel pylons, is threatening the future of our family business," said Mr Williams.
'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.''
Montgomeryshire MS, Russell George, has raised concerns about the effect the proposed pylon route would have to local businesses and voiced his support on a visit to Bryn Vyrnwy Holiday Park with Powys County councillor, Gwynfor Thomas.
'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,' said Mr George.
'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.
Cllr Thomas added: 'Apart 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.
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