Barn plan by historic Motte approved by councillors

Councillors have approved plans to build a large barn near the site of an ancient castle overlooking the River Severn.

Dolforwyn county councillor, Gareth Pugh, applied with the authority earlier this year for an agricultural building and crushed stone track at Bryn Derwen Motte.

The motte is described as a set of earthworks that archaeologists interpret as the “mutilated” remains of a motte and bailey castle.

It is situated to the left of Bryn Derwen Bridge on the way into Abermule.

The application was submitted to the council’s Planning Committee for a decision at their meeting on Thursday, October 31.

The rules state that applications by county councillors are automatically brought before the Planning committee for a decision.

Cllr Pugh is also a Planning committee member and having declared an interest, left the meeting while his application was discussed.

The proposed building would be 18.4 metres in length, 7.4 metres in height, with a width of 9.1 metres.

Its purpose would be to provide shelter for livestock and storage for machinery and fodder at the site.

Committee solicitor Rachel Moles said: “Given the nature of the applicant in this matter, in line with the planning protocol I can confirm that the file has been reviewed and it has been processed correctly.

Concerns had been raised about road safety and  “overdevelopment” of the site.

The report shows that the highways authority raised no objections, and that planning officer Hannah Miller considered the plan to be acceptable in terms of design, scale, and height.

Ms Miller said: “The stone track has previously attained scheduled monument consent from Cadw prior to the application being submitted.”

Ms Miller explained that that during the application process a statement on the impact the building could have on the scheduled monument was included.

With the Welsh Government’s historic and environment service Cadw also consulted on it.

Ms Miller said: “Cadw said that the impact could be reduced to an acceptable level if the colour of the building was changed to green to match the existing tree line on the site.

“This has been included as one of the conditions.”

She explained that another condition to be attached to the planning permission is that an archaeologist needs to be present during groundworks at the site.

This is in case anything of historic interest is found there.

Ms Miller went on to advise councillors to approve the proposal.

Cllr Karl Lewis said: “With Cadw in mind, they are happy with the mitigating measures being put forward.

“Highways, NRW (Natural Resources Wales) and all the other consultees seem to be happy, the community council is satisfied as well.

“This is only in front of us because the applicant is a county councillor.”

Cllr Lewis said he would be “happy” to move the application on to a vote.

Cllr Gareth E Jones seconded this.

A vote was taken, and the committee unanimously supported the application.

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service