Legal row landowners agree access for pylon survey
BBCA group of landowners who refused access to their land to build a new pylon route have agreed to sign licences to grant access.
Green Gen Cymru wants to develop an electricity connection between Lan Fawr Energy Park near Llanddewi Brefi, Ceredigion, to a new National Grid substation at Llandyfaelog, Carmarthenshire.
The 132kV electricity connection could power more than 10,000 homes but several landowners had refused permission for company representatives to access their land for surveys.
Ten people were due in Llanelli Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, but four reached an agreement with Green GEN Cymru before the hearing and the court heard the remaining six would sign licences to grant access.
Green GEN Cymru withdrew the warrants against the four who reached the deal before the hearing "without consequence in costs" but the court was told this would be the last time the company was happy to scrap the costs.
About 70 people gathered outside the court to support the landowners, including Plaid Cymru Members of the Senedd Adam Price and Cefin Campbell.
Judge Gwyn Jones rejected a request from the landowners' legal team to adjourn the case after they said not enough time had been given to consider all the evidence.
The Towy-Teifi line is one of three major routes of pylons in Powys, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, being proposed by Green GEN Cymru, each spanning several miles.
Protesters have argued for the lines to be installed underground to protect the natural beauty of the areas.
Two warrants regarding the Towy-Usk route, which were adjourned on 7 April, were also scheduled for hearings on Tuesday but legal representative for Green GEN Cymru told the court that all farm landowners in those cases had come to an agreement and would sign licences to grant access.
Green GEN Cymru said in a statement: "For more than two years we have sought to reach voluntary access agreements with landowners so that Green GEN Cymru can conduct critical environmental surveys. Legal action has never been our chosen route.
"In all discussions with landowners, we have offered compensation for any potential disruption caused by surveys and to pay for independent professional advice. We will continue to do so as we work with landowners across our routes."