Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm - RWE.com

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Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm
the event that the additional pre-commencement surveys referred to above indicate a change
of circumstances that requires licensed mitigation measures to be adopted. The low level of
bat use of this open upland site with its degraded habitat examples minimises the potential for
significant effects from collision or displacement, both in terms of resident bat populations and
any transient migratory movements. Residual impacts on bats are therefore assessed as not
significant at any geographical scale.
9.7.5 Impacts on habitats and peat resources, including habitats potentially subject to local or
national BAP initiatives, and forming part of the supporting interest of the Pentwyn Mawr and
Mynydd Pysgodlyn candidate SINC, from small-scale habitat loss and potential for localised
changes as a consequence of the wind farm construction are assessed as not significant on
any geographical scale above the immediate confines of the site. No scarce, rare or protected
plant species are at risk.
9.7.6 In terms of protected fauna, the potential for bat roosts to be affected has been restricted by
design and other mitigation to the need for works on a single tree. Compensation through the
provision of artificial roost sites (bat boxes) equivalent to or exceeding the quantum of
roosting opportunities lost is well tested as a compensation technique and there is no
significant likelihood of the conservation status of any bat species being threatened, even in
the event that the additional pre-commencement surveys referred to above indicate a change
of circumstances that requires licensed mitigation measures to be adopted. The low level of
bat use of this open upland site with its degraded habitat examples minimises the potential for
significant effects from collision or displacement, both in terms of resident bat populations and
any transient migratory movements. Residual impacts on bats are therefore assessed as not
significant at any geographical scale.
9.7.7 Exclusion by habitat manipulation will remove the great majority of risk of any reptiles being
harmed during construction. On the linear scale employed there is always a small risk of
inadvertent harm to individuals even when full best practice precautions are employed. Soon
after construction, any such impact would be compensated by habitat recovery and/or the
additional habitat features associated with tracks and turbine bases. In the worst case the
resulting minor magnitude impact would be significant on the immediately local scale,
reducing within a few years to not significant.
9.7.8 Similar conclusions can be drawn for all other non-avian species of note, including Species of
Principal Importance such as brown hare, and the more uncommon invertebrate species
present.
9.7.9 Table 9.6 below provides a summary of the predicted impacts of the construction of the wind
farm on non-avian ecological receptors, and their significance, both before and after
mitigation is applied.