Unless we act quickly one of Eryri’s most iconic waterfalls, and wildlife sites, will be damaged forever

Already over 650 people have written letters of objection against the hydro-electric power scheme to build a dam on the Afon Cynfal near Llan Ffestiniog and divert, at time, nearly 70% of the water around the iconic waterfall of Rhaeadr y Cwm. Three times over the past thirty years plans have been submitted for a hydro-electric scheme in Cwm Cynfal. Three times they have been either refused or withdrawn. But in July the developers formally submitted another application. The deadline for objections is 20 September.

But we are concerned that the planners have already signalled to the developers that the scheme is acceptable in principle. So we need to get the message across to the the Planning Committee that people are imploring them follow the Welsh Government’s and the National Park’s planning policies and protect designated wildlife sties like this from damage.

If you have not yet sent in your letter of objection, would you be able to do this? It only takes five minutes using the button below.

Yes, I’ll help I want to raise my voice against the plan

If you have already sent your letter of objection and you live in Gwynedd or Conwy, would you be willing to send a message to your local Councillor, your Member of the Senedd and your MP, to let them know that you have objected to the this damaging development?

It’s important because local Councillors make up the majority of the Committee that will make the decision. And the local MP and MS are important as both of them have, sadly, endorsed the plan.

You can contact them by going to the Write to them website. Once you’re there, type in your postcode and you’ll see the names of your Local Councillor, MS and MP. Click on each name and you’ll be able to write a short letter to them.

You could say something like:

“Dear

Planning Application Ref: NP5/59/495C

Hydro-electric generation scheme to generate up to (600kW) at Afon Cynfal, Ffestiniog

I’m writing to you to let you know that I am hugely concerned about this plan, which would threaten one of the most iconic waterfalls in Eryri and a highly protected wildlife site. The scheme would generate just 600kW. That’s only enough for 60 electric power showers. You would need 12 schemes like this to replace one modern wind turbine. I have written to the Eryri National Park Authority to object to the plan, but I am writing to urge you to use all of your influence to make sure that the National Park Authority follows its own polices and those of the Welsh Government, and protects this majestic waterfall for future generations. Can I ask, are you willing to do this?”

The message above is just a suggestion. It would be much better if you wrote your own letter, maybe using some of the text below. Remember to include your name address and postcode.  Go to the We write to them website

Painting of the waterfall by David Cox
A place that has inspired storytellers, artists and poets

Cwm Cynfal is a place that has inspired storytellers, artists and poets over a millennium. It is one of Eryri’s most majestic waterfalls. But now it is being threatened once again by a hydro-electric scheme that would see the river dammed and as much as 70% of the available water diverted out of the waterfall.

The gorge is highly protected under wildlife legislation, a Site of Special Scientific Interest within a National Park. It’s designated partly for the rare mosses and liverworts that can be found there. If you divert that much water out of the waterfall, that will change the very wet conditions that make the gorge so special.

We’re concerned about the visual appearance, the sound and impressiveness of the waterfall, the wildlife that lives in the gorge and also the damage to this very historic site with its medieval trackways.

We strongly support the need to decarbonise the economy. But with any renewable energy scheme, you have to weigh the damage against the benefits. This scheme would produce relatively little electricity, enough to power just 60 power showers. Its 600kW capacity would be only about 8% of just one of the 7.2MW turbines at the proposed Y Bryn windfarm between Maesteg and Port Talbot.

You can help protect the waterfall

The developers themselves carried out a pre-application consultation at the end of last year. The response to that, which are included as part of the planning application, confirm that the vast majority of those who took part do not support the scheme. Though the figures are difficult to extract from the paper submitted to the National Park Authority, 359 individuals or organisations took part. 276 noted that they did not support the application. 181 of those opposed were local to the Eryri National Park, Gwynedd or North Wales. Only 3 noted that they supported the development.

Rory Francis
Director Cymdeithas Eryri Snowdonia Society

Yes, I’ll help I want to raise my voice against the plan