Wind farm community fund pays for beach ramp
The first completed project to be funded by RWE npower renewables' Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Tourism Fund has been completed in Rhyl.
The £250,000 Rhyl Beach Access Project created a new ramp to make it easier for disabled visitors to get down to the beach, and will also help people wanting to launch small water craft.
The project was funded by the Gwynt y Môr Tourism Fund, which provided £125,715, the Green Seas Beach Improvement programme £107,785 and Denbighshire County Council £20,144. The Gwynt y Môr Tourism Fund totals £690,000.
Alun Griffiths Ltd was the contractor for Denbighshire County Council.
Toby Edmonds, RWE npower renewables' Gwynt y Môr project director, said: "Gwynt y Môr is working with both Denbighshire and Conwy local authorities to identify suitable projects to benefit from our funding and we hope to announce further tourism schemes in the near future."
The opening event earlier this week also saw the launch of the Rhyl Kite Surfing Club, members of which will also use the ramp. Sand-friendly wheelchairs will be available for visitors with disabilities and the ramped access will be used by small craft such as wind surfers, beach buggies and sand yachts.
At 576MW, Gwynt y Môr is one of the largest offshore wind farms currently in construction in Europe. It is a joint venture between RWE Innogy, Stadtwerke München GmbH and Siemens.
Once fully operational, energy generation from Gwynt y Môr is expected to be equivalent to the average annual needs of around 400,000 homes.
Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm has awarded contracts worth more than £80m to companies in Wales.
RWE npower renewables is also developing proposals for an onshore wind farm at Clocaenog Forest, near Ruthin. Up to 32 turbines are being proposed, which could generate significant long term local jobs and investments if consented. It will carry with it a community benefit fund of up to £480,000 per year, along with an economic development fund of up to £288,000 per year, both subject to final installed capacity. Proposals will be considered by the Planning Inspectorate.
