Llangattock: The alternative to the Big Six?

As the energy debate rumbles on at Westminster with opposing parties squawking at each other in a vain attempt to cury favour with a weary electorate, a project has been announced which proves that the alleged monopoly of the Big Six is not quite as definite as we have been led to believe.

A Mid Wales community has pooled their resources to raise the £273,000 to build to micro hydro electric turbines to be housed on two local streams. The community at Llangattock and surrounding area is well aware of the benefits of green fuel having won an award last year. The community has already installed solar panels and radiator panels at the school with an air pump heat source. Amazingly, the 43 homes have thus far installed 655 energy saving devices ranging from insulation, solar panels, a biomass boiler and multi fuel stoves.

The community at Llangattock have merely done what the Scandinavians would consider the norm. What is notable is the number of communities which have done little or nothing. Government incentives help of course but people don't need Government help to achieve their dreams. If the people of Llangattock can do this, why are so many other communities not doing likewise?

Every penney invested now by Llangattock makes them a litle bit less reliant on fossil fuels and a little bit more sustainable. Whichever way we look at this, it just makes so much sense. It beggars belief then to observe the present Government ditching some of the green subsidies to try and save Joe Average £50 of his annual fuel bill. If this is the best our Government can do, we really are best off going it alone and seeking the solutions ourselves as done in Llangattock. They have done nothing space age. They have just maximised what they can do for the benefit of their entire community. The "have it all generation" has been taken literally in Llangattock because the entire community will benefit from their investment.

This story should be held up by this Government as a shining light. It should be used to illustrate what people can achieve if they work together in the common interest. It is schemes like this which will render irrelevant the profit margins of the Big Six. Yes, the latter need more competition but we all know that their sheer size makes competition a bit of a nonsense. Don't wait for the Government to advise you, seek the solutions yourselves and relish the independence.