Wind farm refused by councillors

Plans for a wind farm near Newtown have been rejected today (Tuesday) by councillors because of concern over access to the site near Newtown.

Powys County Council's planning committee rejected plans for 11 turbines at Waun Garno, Llawr-y-Glyn, near Trefeglwys because of concerns that lanes leading to the site were not suitable.

The report to councillors recommending refusal stated: "The combined landscape impact, visual impact, biodiversity impact, cultural heritage impact, public rights of way impact, noise impact and highway impact of the proposed development is considered to outweigh the benefits of the renewable energy contribution of the proposed development.

"As an increased impact upon highways and structures would be generated from the above planning proposal, the cost of the additional maintenance and repair would be the responsibility of the developer and not that of the highways authorities.

It added: "Furthermore, highway widening would involve land outside the ownership of the highways authorities and beyond the control of the developer. Any proposed wind farm development would thus have a significant impact on the highway network."

A decision is still awaited from the National Grid on the route of the location of a proposed electricity sub-station to feed power from wind farms into the National Grid, as well as the route of pylons from Montgomeryshire into Shropshire.