Public engagement event at Penpont with raffle

AME was delighted to accept an invitation to have a stall at the Penpont Christmas Fair on 13th and 14th December. We displayed our shiny new banners, held a raffle to raise campaign funds and met lots of local people who share our dismay at the plans for the beautiful Welsh countryside.

We had a computer with touch screen available, showing our website. This allowed people see for themselves the fabulous video of the Epynt, and what would be lost if Bute are allowed to proceed.

The overwhelming sense from everyone we spoke to was that the plans were utterly innappropriate for the location and that local people were being ignored and treated badly by the planning process.

We engaged with some very knowledgeable people and contructive conversations were had about more appropriate forms of local energy generation for local people, such as micro-hydro schemes, solar PV panels on roofs (especially in cities and towns where the power is required), and indeed small scale wind where appropriate to meet local needs. A couple of people raised their interest in mini-nuclear suggesting that it could offer possibilities. In particular some useful conversations were had with employees from the Brecon Beacons National Park and Natural Resources Wales, the latter confirming to us that we are right to be concerned about wider issues and not just the significant impacts on local communities.

We also encountered two people who apparently work for Bute, but they declined to engage in conversation or indeed buy raffle tickets!

The raffle was a great success, raising £555.00 towards campaigning costs. The winning tickets were drawn by other stall holders at the fair on Sunday afternoon; all 21 prize winners have been notified.

AME wants to thank the Hogg family for their generous and warm welcome at Penpont, to all the volunteers who staffed the stall, to those who kindly donated raffle prizes and especially to Bridgett and Brendan who organised the raffle and worked long hours selling raffle tickets with great aplomb.