Council clarifies its position on windfarms: no 'pre-determined position'
Wynne Jones, Powys County Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration and development, has said the council has no pre-determined position on windfarms.
Councillor Jones was addressing a specially arranged board meeting at County Hall to explain his comments to the media on pending windfarm applications in Powys.
The meeting had been called in reaction to interviews Cllr Jones gave to the County Times and BBC television in which he said that work on all windfarm planning applications in Powys had been stopped.
Cllr Jones said the work had been stopped because of transport impact assessments, which revealed Mid Wales’ road network was inadequate to transport the components to build the windfarms.
However, Powys County issued a statement that applications were not on hold and that the issue was merely a misunderstanding.
Cllr Jones, addressed the meeting of the council’s board from a prepared statement.
He said: “I wish to make it very clear from the outset that PCC nor indeed myself as portfolio holder for regeneration and development have any position on windfarms or wind energy. Windfarm applications will be determined by us as the planning authority in line with current planning policy.”
Cllr Jones also sought to clarify his comments about work on applications being stopped by saying: “Our team in the specialist planning department are currently delaying determination of applications, that means they are no longer working on preparing and processing reports for the planning committee, the reason being there are substantial access issues involved which are currently unresolved.”
After concluding his statement Cllr Jones was heavily criticised by several members of the board including Cllr Gwyn Gwilym, who said he had been appalled by Cllr Jones comments.
He said that the perception given by Cllr Jones comments was that the council was against wind farms and that he was concerned about the damage which had been done to the council as a result.
Guilsfield Cllr David Jones also added his voice to those criticising Cllr Jones, while Cllr Graham Brown said he was confused by the explanation on whether windfarm applications had been stopped.
The chief executive of the council, Mark Kerr, said he did not feel the incident had damaged the council’s standing with the Welsh Assembly Government.
He said: “We have a good understanding of what the situation is and I do not think the relationship has come under any serious strain.”
By Dominic Robertson
2 September 2008
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