Windfarm plans on Shropshire border are thrown out

Credit: Shropshire Star | September 6, 2013 | www.shropshirestar.com ~~

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Plans for a windfarm less than two miles from an area of outstanding natural beauty in Shropshire have been thrown out.

Now there are fears that developers behind the scheme on the Mid Wales border at Garreg Lwyd, south of Newtown, will appeal against the decision.

The 23 turbines, which would be about 350ft high, would affect tourism that was vital to the area, councillors in Powys claimed.

They said the mid Wales countryside was being turned into an industrial site.

Members of Powys Council Council’s planning committee also objected to three applications for road improvements in Newtown to allow abnormal loads to travel to the site.

Lorries carrying the turbines would travel from Ellesmere Port, through Shropshire, Welshpool and Newtown.

The decision came as plans for three other larger windfarms in north Wales were being debated at a public inquiry in Welshpool.

Because the Garreg Lywd application was for under 50 turbines it came under the jurisdiction of the county council.

However, several councillors said that they were worried about the cumulative effects of the proliferation of windfarms in mid Wales as well as the specific effect of the individual application.

Councillor Kelvyn Curry said that to grant permission for the Garreg Lwyd windfarm would jeopardise the council’s case against the larger applications.

On Wednesday, councillors looked from several vantage points, including Shropshire and the Kerry Ridgway towards the site.

Councillor Peter Medlicott said: “I stood on those viewpoints and saw windfarms all over the place. We are turning the Welsh countryside into an industrial site.”

The turbines would be in view of several recognised walking routes including the Offa’s Dyke path, the Glwyndwr Way, the Severn Way and the Shropshire Way.

Richard Evans, for developer RES, said the scheme was not dependent on the planned electricity sub station at Cefn Coch, which would link to the national grid via pylons through Shrophire to Frankton.

Source: Shropshire Star | September 6, 2013 | www.shropshirestar.com

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