Village is renamed in wind-farm protest

People in a remote Welsh beauty spot have renamed their village in a protest against a wind farm. The village of Llanfynydd, south Wales, has been transformed into Llanhyfryddawelllehynafolybarcudprindanfygythiadtrienusyrhafnauole.

People in a remote Welsh beauty spot have renamed their village in a protest against a wind farm. The village of Llanfynydd, south Wales, has been transformed into Llanhyfryddawelllehynafolybarcudprindanfygythiadtrienusyrhafnauole.

The Carmarthenshire village will temporarily eclipse Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwchllantysiliogogogoch in north Wales, the longest name title, by eight characters.

But the name change, planned by the Community of Llanfynydd Against Wind-power Station (Claws), will last just a week to highlight opposition to a planned wind farm. The Spanish-owned Gamesa Energy UK wants to site 30 turbines, which could be 450ft tall, on ridges overlooking the village.

It has applied to Carmarthenshire County Council to site a wind-speed mast to test the area's suitability. Council planners will make their decision on Thursday and villagers will attend the meeting.

Meirion Rees, a villager, said: "The village is ... an area of conservation of special landscape interest. It's a haven for wildlife, including three endangered species: red kite, curlew and skylark. We will do everything we can to allow Llanfynydd the bright future within its grasp."

The village's new name means "a quiet beautiful village, a historic place with rare kite under threat from wretched blades".