Gwenlais Solar Field

Solar construction is quick and we would expect the build to be complete within three months but it is important that any disruption to our neighbours is kept to an absolute minimum. Most of the larger deliveries would take place during the first four weeks of construction.

We are proposing that vehicles enter and leave the site using the following routes throughout the construction process. South route: M4 Junction 47 at Swansea West, then A48/Swansea Road/Bryntirion Road, left onto Allt-y-graban Road, left onto site entrances on Gwenlais Road and Carmel Road. North route: M4 Junction 48, then A4138 onto A48, right on to Allt-y-graban Road, left onto site entrances on Gwenlais Road and Carmel Road.

Deliveries to the site will be restricted to normal working hours (9am – 6pm) and outside of school drop off and pick up times.

Llwybrau Troed

Nid oes llwybr troed neu hawl tramwy cyhoeddus (PROW) sy’n croesi’r safle cynigwyd, er bod y llwybr troed LC16 yn agos at ffin ddwyreiniol a gogleddol y safle, yn cysylltu Pengelli gyda Carmel Road. Fe all y llwybr troed yma cau dros dro tra’r ydym yn adeiladu’r safle.

Mae’r broses adeiladwaith solar yn gyflym a fyddem yn disgwyl gorffen hi o fewn tri mis. Mae’n bwysig bod ein cymdogion yn cael eu heffeithio’r lleiaf bosib gennym ni.

Bydd mwyafrif y trosglwyddiadau mawr yn digwydd yn ystod y pedwar wythnos gyntaf o adeiladwaith.

Rydym yn cynnig bod cerbydau’n mynd mewn ac allan o’r safle trwy’r ffyrdd canlynol yn ystod y proses adeiladwaith. Llwybr y De: M4 Cyffordd 47 ge

No footpaths or public rights of way (PROW) cross the proposed site, although footpath LC16 runs partially along the eastern and northern boundary of the southern site, connecting Grovesend with Carmel Road.

There maybe a temporary closure of this path while we construct the site.

Nid oes llwybr troed neu hawl tramwy cyhoeddus (PROW) sy’n croesi’r safle cynigwyd, er bod y llwybr troed LC16 yn agos at ffin ddwyreiniol a gogleddol y safle, yn cysylltu Pengelli gyda Carmel Road. Fe all y llwybr troed yma cau dros dro tra’r ydym yn adeiladu’r safle.

Reptile Survey

The survey assessed the site for native reptile species; there are the four common reptile species, Grass Snake, Adder, Slow Worm and Common Lizard.

All native reptiles are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The two rarest species, the Sand Lizard and Smooth Snake are also identified as European Protected Species.

Low numbers of Common Lizard were recorded within the margins of the semi-improved grassland in the northern fields. Individual Slow Worm and Grass Snake were recorded within the margins of the marshy grassland in the southern most field.

Based on these results, the site is likely to support only a small population of both Common Lizard and Slow Worm and occasional dispersal/foraging by Grass Snake.

It is unlikely to qualify as a Key Reptile Site. There is a small risk of killing or injuring individual reptiles during site preparation and other construction activities, which is considered as an offence under relevant wild legislation.

Mitigation in the form of Reasonable Avoidance Measure (RAMs) will be implemented during the construction phase.

Great Crested Newt Survey (GCN) (DNA evidence survey)

All accessible waterbodies within 500m of the site were evaluated for their potential to support Great Crested Newts by calculating a habitat suitability index (HSI) as per ARG UK Advice Note 5.

The survey visits were carried out within the optimum period of mid-April to late June and the samples were collected by a suitably experienced licenced ecologist.

GCN DNA was not found in the water bodies within 500m of the site. It is reasonable to conclude that GCN are not present within the vicinity of the proposed development. The construction of the solar field will have no adverse effect on GCN and no mitigation is required.

Arolwg Ymlusgol

Asesodd yr arolwg y safle am rywogaethau ymlusgol brodorol; mae yna bedwar rhywogaeth ymlusgol gyffredin, Neidr y Gwair, Gwiber, Dallneidr a Madfall Gyffredin. Mae pob rhywogaeth frodorol yn cael ei hamddiffyn gan y Ddeddf Bywyd Gwyllt a Chefn Gwlad 1981. Mae’r ddwy rywogaeth fwyaf prin, Madfall y Tywod a’r Neidr Lefn, yn cael eu hadnabod fel Rhywogaeth Ewropeaidd a Amddiffynnir.

Fe gofnodwyd niferoedd isel o’r Fadfall Gyffredin o fewn ffiniau’r glaswelltir go-amgen yn y caeau gogleddol. Fe gofnodwyd Dallneidr a Neidr y Gwair unigol o fewn ffiniau’r glaswelltir corsiog yn y cae mwyaf deheuol.

Yn seiliedig ar y canlyniadau hyn, mae’n debygol bod y safle dim ond yn cynnal poblogaeth fechan o Fadfallod a Dallnadroedd, ac ambell waith gwasgariad/chwilota gan Nadroedd y Gwair. Mae’n annhebygol o gymhwyso fel Safle Ymlusgol Allweddol.

Mae yna risg bach o ladd neu niweidio ymlusgiaid unigol yn ystod paratoad y safle a gweithgareddau eraill yr adeiladwaith, y fe’i hystyriwyd fel trosedd gan ddeddfwriaeth wyllt berthnasol. Yn ystod cyfnod yr adeiladwaith, fe weithredir lliniariad mewn ffurf Mesur Osgoad Rhesymol (RAMs).

Arolwg Madfall Gribog (GCN) (Arolwg Tystiolaeth DNA)

Fe werthuswyd pob ardal ddyfrol gyraeddadwy o fewn 500m o’r safle ar gyfer eu potensial i gynnal Madfallod Cribog - gan gyfrifo indecs cyfaddasrwydd cynefin (HSI) yn cytuno â Nodyn Cyngor 5 ARG UK. Y cynhaliwyd ymweliadau’r arolwg yn ystod y cyfnod optimwm sef canol Ebrill at ddiwedd Mehefin, ac fe gasglwyd y samplau gan ecolegydd trwyddedig â phrofiad cymwys.

Ni ddarganfuwyd DNA Madfall Gribog yn yr ardaloedd dyfrol addas o fewn 500m o’r safle. Mae’n deg i gasglu fod Madfallod Cribog ddim yn bresennol tu fewn cyffiniau’r datblygiad y cynigwyd. Ni fydd adeiladwaith y maes solar yn effeithio Madfallod Cribog yn anffafriol ac nid oes angen lliniariad.

We have carried a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, Reptile Survey and Great Crested Newt Survey to assess the ecological constraints on the site and ensure compliance with nature conservation and planning policy.

Preliminary Ecological Appraisal – the following recommendations were made:

Hedgerows; All hedgerow habitat will be protected from accidental damage during the construction phase by a five metre buffer zone,

Bats; Precautionary mitigation will be undertaken in relation to lighting during the construction phase,

Common Dormice; Potential habitats associated with external hedgerows will be protected from accidental damage during the construction phase by a buffer zone of five metres,

Nesting birds; Bird nesting habitats associated with boundary hedgerows and scrub will be protected. If construction is likely to impact potential bird nesting habitats, these habitats will be thoroughly inspected prior to commencement.

Amgylcheddol

Rydym wedi cynnal Asesiad Ecolegol Rhagarweiniol, Arolwg Ymlusgol ac Arolwg Madfall Gribog i asesu cyfyngiadau ecolegol y safle a sicrhau cydymffurfiad â pholisi cadwraeth a chynllunio natur.

Asesiad Ecolegol Rhagarweiniol - fe wnaed yr argymhellion canlynol;

Gwrychoedd; amddiffynnir pob cynefin gwrych o niwed damweiniol yn ystod cyfnod yr adeiladwaith gan glustogfa o bum medr,

Ystlumod; ymgymerir lliniariad rhagofalus ynglŷn â golau yn ystod cyfnod yr adeiladwaith,

Pathewod Cyffredin; amddiffynnir cynefinoedd posib sy’n gysylltiol â gwrychoedd allanol o niwed damweiniol yn ystod cyfnod yr adeiladwaith gan glustogfa o bum medr,

Adar yn nythu; Dylid ei hamddiffyn cynefinoedd nythu sy’n gysylltiol â gwrychoedd a phrysg y ffiniau. Os ydy’r adeiladwaith yn debygol o effeithio cynefinoedd nythu potensial, dylid eu harolygu yn drwyadl cyn dechrau.

We have carried out a preliminary site appraisal of the visual impact of the proposed solar field. A final report is required, however these initial results indicate that this development can be achieved without significant harm to views and landscape character.

We have chosen a number of public viewpoints, see below the zone of theoretical visibility plan, which we intend to use to assess the visual impact.

Our assessment made the following recommendations for further comment by Swansea Council, the Welsh Government and your Community Council.

• Thickening of hedges and additional hedgerow trees to help screening from points of visibility at Pontlliw and the A38,

• The final landscape and visual impact mitigation plan will include detail of plant species and mixes; plant sizes; planting densities and planting notes,

• Areas within the development boundary to be proposed for natural habitats to increase biodiversity,

• Other features such as nesting boxes, hibernacula, butterfly banks, log piles etc. can be introduced to increase biodiversity and natural habitats,

• Wildlife corridors can be improved along site boundaries to help with the linking of habitats in the local nature conservation areas to the south west.

Effaith Dirweddol a Weledol

Rydym wedi cynnal asesiad rhagarweiniol o effaith gweledol y maes solar cynigwyd. Gofynnwyd adroddiad terfynol, er hynny, mae’r canlyniadau cychwynnol yma yn dangos ei fod yn bosib cyflawni’r datblygiad heb niweidio’n arwyddocaol golygfeydd neu nodweddion y dirwedd.

Rydym wedi dewis nifer o safbwyntiau cyhoeddus yr ydym yn bwriadu defnyddio i asesu’r effaith gweledol. Gweler isod cynllun y parth gwelededd damcaniaethol.

Fe’i gwnaed yr argymhellion canlynol yn ein hasesiad am sylw pellach oddi wrth Gyngor Abertawe, Llywodraeth Cymru ac eich cyngor cymuned.

• Tewychu perthi a choed gwrych ychwanegol i helpu sgrinio o safbwyntiau gwelededd ym Mhontlliw a’r A38,

• Mae gennym gynllun ar gyfer y dirwedd derfynol a lleihad effaith gweledol. Bydd y cynllun hwn yn cynnwys manylion rhywogaethau planhigion a chymysgiadau; meintiau planhigion; dwyseddau plannu a nodiadau plannu,

• Cynnig ardaloedd tu mewn i ffiniau’r datblygiad am gynefinoedd naturiol i gynyddu bioamrywiaeth,

• Fe allwn gyflwyno nodweddion eraill fel blychau nythu, mannau gaeafgysgu, cloddiau pili-pala, pentyrrau o foncyffion ayyb i gynyddu bioamrywiaeth a chynefinoedd naturiol

• Mae modd gwella coridorau bywyd gwyllt ger ffiniau’r safle i helpu cysylltu cynefinoedd yn yr ardaloedd cadwraeth natur leol i’r De-orllewin.

Flood Risk

We have carried out a preliminary site appraisal into the potential of flooding at the proposed solar field and the requirement for a Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) to be installed as part of the development. Natural Resources Wales flood mapping shows that the development site is entirely within Flood Zone 1. This makes it at little or no risk from tidal or fluvial flooding and therefore suitable for ground mounted solar and appropriate for this proposal.

The appraisal concludes that it is entirely possible to successfully manage the surface water runoff and for the drainage infrastructure to be designed in accordance with guidance outlined in the Planning Policy Wales, Statutory Standards for Sustainable Drainage and the CIRIA SuDS Manual on these sites.

Risg Llifogydd

Rydym wedi cynnal asesiad rhagarweiniol ar botensial llifogydd yn y safle cynigwyd, ac yr angen i osod System Draeniad Cynaliadwy (SuDS) fel rhan o’r datblygiad. Mae mapiad llifogydd Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn dangos bod safle’r datblygiad tu fewn i Ranbarth Llifogydd 1, yn gyfan gwbl. Gan hynny, does braidd dim neu ddim risg o lifogydd llanw neu afonol. Felly, mae’r safle yn gymwys ar gyfer solar mowntiedig o’r ddaear, ac yn addas ar gyfer y cynllun cynigwyd.

Casgliad yr asesiad yw ei bod hi’n hollol bosib rheoli dŵr ffo’r arwyneb yn llwyddiannus. Fe gasglwyd hefyd ei bod hi’n hollol bosib dylunio isadeiledd y draeniad i gytuno â’r arweiniad yr amlinellwyd ym Mholisi cynllunio Cymru, Safonau Statudol ar gyfer Draenio Cynaliadwy a llawlyfr CIRIA SuDS yn y safleoedd hyn.

We will be working with Pontlliw and Tircoed Community Council about how we could support the local community.

We are also looking at options to enhance the site by planting native hedgerows, meadows and grasslands.

It is our intention to keep the site in agricultural use through grazing sheep on the land.

The onsite fencing reduces the risk of stock straying and instances of sheep worrying from dogs, shelter from extreme weather is also provided by the solar panels.

We are able to support a sheep flock at similar stocking densities to land without a solar installation.

We take our onsite security seriously and the site will be fenced with CCTV directed onto the solar panels. As developers we need to balance the visual impact of the proposed site at Gwenlais Farm with the necessary security.

We intend to work with South Wales Police, Swansea Council and Pontlliw and Tircoed Community Council to produce an effective security strategy.

We will listen carefully to what you have to say as well as taking advice from the Welsh Government, Swansea Council and our technical experts, who are undertaking important environmental, geological and archaeological surveys on our behalf.

A public consultation event has been arranged, as well as other opportunities to discuss and comment on this proposal. Using the information currently available to us we have designed a solar field, which we believe will have no unacceptable impact on any neighbouring properties and can easily be screened.