May 20, 2014
Wales

Final session of public inquiry

Dominic Robertson | County Times | 16 May 2014 | www.countytimes.co.uk

Powys’ long-running windfarm public inquiry resumes next week for its final session.

The inquiry, which will decide whether five large windfarms and a power line are approved, began last year.

The final session begins on Tuesday, May 20, at the Royal Oak in Welshpool and is scheduled to last two weeks.

It will cover “planning balance, conditions and obligations” before closing statements from The Alliance, Powys County Council, Natural Resources Wales, and the windfarm developers.

Once concluded the planning inspector will assess the evidence and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey.

A final decision is expected to take six to nine months.

Richard Bonfield, of the Alliance, which has tirelessly campaigned against the windfarm proposals, says the group is confident that the planning inspectors have taken their case on board.

He said: “We are confident that our arguments have been put over in a professional manner. We have impressed both the inspectors in the way we have presented our case.

“We have been analytical and researched heavily and we are confident he has taken on board not only the alliance presentations during the inquiry, but also, more importantly, the feelings of the public at the evening session which have been held. The number of people who have turned out has been staggering.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/05/20/final-session-of-public-inquiry/