March 22, 2007
U.K.
U.K.
County planners have delayed a decision on a controversial wind farm in the heart of Carmarthenshire.
The move was welcomed with caution by protesters fighting plans to build 10 110-m turbines at Blaengwen Farm, on the edge of the Brechfa Forest.
The planning committee agreed last week to visit the site near Pencader and look at how it will affect the landscape from there and on Llanllwni Mountain.
Planning officers had recommended the wind farm be approved.
Carolyn Smethurst, of the Brechfa Forest Action Group, said: “Any delay is good news but we will continue to fight this application.”
Planning permission for the turbines was granted by the planning committee last year.
But the application was sensationally rejected by the county council’s departures committee, which scrutinises planning decisions.
The developer Catamount has submitted a new application at the same site for 10 turbines with enhanced landscaping.
Protesters fear the wind farm will have a dramatic impact on wildlife, effect the health of local people, hit tourism, and claim wind power is not an efficient form of energy.
Head of planning Eifion Bowen said the Assembly had given guidance on where to site wind farms and the debate on the efficiency of wind power was not part of their planning process.
Councillors will visit the site and reach a decision next Tuesday, March 27.
By Graeme Wilkinson
21 March 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/03/22/wind-farm-decision-postponed/