February 1, 2012
Wales

Still time to protest over hilltop wind turbine plan

Carmarthen Journal, www.thisissouthwales.co.uk 1 February 2012

A man protesting against plans for a large wind turbine at a farm near Cynwyl Elfed is reminding people there is still time to lodge their views with planners.

Although the official consultation period has now closed, John Spencer said people could still send in objections if they wanted to.

“People can still object – or say what a wonderful thing it is,” he said.

His neighbour David Anthony Thomas, of Nant y Gelli, has applied for planning permission to Carmarthenshire Council.

The proposed site is on a hilltop to the northeast of Nant y Gelli farm, on a lane off the A484 between Cynwyl Elfed and Cwmduad.

The neighbours were dismayed site notices were only placed on a gateway and a telegraph pole – effectively meaning no one was aware of the plans before the time period for consultation had passed. The council’s planning officers have maintained everything was done by the book for the application for the 61 metre, three- bladed turbine.

But Mr Spencer took issue with a comment that people could no longer lodge representations.

“People can still send in their objections until a few days before it comes to the planning committee, which is not going to be until March,” he said.

He added the local community council had also objected to the plans at a special hearing because not enough information on them was supplied first time around.

He also raised concerns that the application was being “rushed though” ahead of the council’s new policy on the buffer zone between residential properties and wind turbines.

Carmarthenshire Council’s head of planning, Eifion Bowen, said: “The application was advertised in accordance with regulations.

“Indeed, the authority received comments on the scheme, which included reference to the publicity given to the application.”

A final decision on the plans will be made by Carmarthenshire Council’s planning committee at a later date.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/02/01/still-time-to-protest-over-hilltop-wind-turbine-plan/