November 30, 2017
Wales

Second Rhoscrowther windfarm public inquiry to start

Western Telegraph | www.westerntelegraph.co.uk

A second public inquiry in to controversial plans to site five 100 metre high wind turbines at Rhoscrowther is to start next week.

Rhoscrowther Windfarm Ltd’s application to site the 100 metre high turbines on land owned by former Hundleton county councillor John Allen-Mirehouse, near the Valero refinery was turned down at the January 2015 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s January planning and rights of way committee.

The turbines, if granted, would have been the largest rural windfarm constructed in the county.

A public inquiry was later held in the Cleddau Bridge Hotel, Pembroke Dock during November and December of that year, at which a government Inspector dismissed an appeal by developers.

He found that the proposal would cause ‘substantial visual harm to landscape character and visual amenity in respect of significant parts of the nearby Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’ and to ‘the setting of the Grade I listed St Decumanus Church’.

He also concluded that this was not alleviated by the presence of the nearby Valero oil refinery, and would have ‘a harmful, visually compounding and confusing effect’.

The developers then applied to the High Court to have the decision quashed.

They were unsuccessful, but at a second attempt, a judge ordered that the proposal be re-heard at a new Inquiry with a different Planning Inspector appointed by the Welsh Government.

The new public inquiry takes place at Angle Village Hall for four days on December 5-8, 10am-5pm.

The developers and the county council will re-state their cases, plus the Pembrokeshire Branch of CPRW (the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales) and a selection of other local objectors.

Members of the public may attend to observe proceedings at any time.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/11/30/second-rhoscrowther-windfarm-public-inquiry-to-start/