CEIRIOG VALLEY ACTION GROUP

Residents of the Ceiriog Valley united against proposals to blight one of North Wales’ most beautiful rural landscapes with industrial wind turbines

Full information about the CVAG campaign

can be found on the Group’s website:

www.cvag.campaign.btinternet.co.uk.

Release date: Thursday July 17th 2002

Anti turbine posters torn down

in night of organised vandalism

ALMOST every poster in the Ceiriog Valley campaign against the proposed sighting of 300ft wind turbines at Cefn Coed, Glyn Ceiriog, was ripped down in a bout of organised vandalism last night.

Under the cover of darkness, more than 40 of the laminated A3-size posters proclaiming, in Welsh and English, ‘No to wind turbines in the Ceiriog Valley’ - many of them reachable only by ladder - were destroyed in the systematic raid in the early hours of Wednesday morning

A large painted ‘No turbines’ hoarding on private land at Pontfaen, at the entrance to the Valley, was similarly vandalised. The saboteurs left their calling card, by painting ‘Yes’ over the ‘No’ wording.

It is the second time in two weeks that the Ceiriog Valley Action Group’s posters, reflecting the views of almost 1,400 objectors, have been targeted.

The signs were paid for out of the proceeds of scores of donations to the ‘No’ campaign by ordinary working people living in the Valley.

The vandalism is seen by CVAG as further evidence of a characteristic negativity by the tiny group of pro-turbine supporters.

CVAG Chairman Kyran Lawford reacted calmly to the attack however. “Given the very small number in favour of the turbines application - just 15 people wrote to Wrexham Council supporting it - we are dealing with perhaps only one or two individuals. But they do their cause no good” he said.

“In tearing down the posters and defacing signs on private land they have

shown the same disregard for the opinions of the majority of Valley people, as

the applicants of the turbine development, who care nothing about the devastating impact these giant turbines would impose.

“They have not held a single meeting to present their case to residents, nor made any real attempt to publicise their views. We put our posters up openly, in broad daylight and with conviction, for everyone to see. They have ripped them down, furtively, under the cover of darkness, in the hope they wouldn’t be spotted. That speaks volumes about their lack of support.

“Fortunately, with almost 1400 objectors, Wrexham CBC now knows what supporters of the Valley are really saying, and the tearing down of 40 or 50 posters will not detract from that.”

Editors: For further information, please contact CVAG Chairman Kyran Lawford on 01691-718756, Secretary Chris Futcher on 01691-718602, or Press Officer David Wilcock on 01691-718351.