Controversial weather mast approved on casting vote

Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

A controversial wind energy proposal has been approved by a casting vote after councillors were split over the decision.

The casting vote of Powys Council’s Planning committee chairman means plans for a 122.5-metre-high weather mast near Aberhonddu will go ahead.

At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Planning Committee on Thursday, 6 August, the application by Garreg Fawr Energy Park Limited for a meteorological mast and ancillary structure for a five-year period at land south of Ffynnon Ffrydyll at Merthyr Cynog came before councillors for the second time.

This site is between Sennybridge and Aberhonddu.

Garreg Fawr Energy Park Limited is a subsidiary of Bute Energy, and they want to eventually build 22 wind turbines with a maximum height of 220 metres at the site.

The application was deferred at the committee’s last meeting on 8 July, to allow newly elected local county councillor Colin Millichap  to find out the views of residents on the scheme.

Cllr Millichap (Liberal Democrat) was only elected to represent the Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew ward following a by-election on 1 July.

Planning officer Catherine James said that Cllr Millichap’s comments were included in the report, and she read out his objections to the scheme.

Ms James reconfirmed that she recommended that councillors approve the scheme and that there had been no changes to the proposal during the last month.

For the second time in the meeting arguments were put forward to reject the weather mast as it could be a danger to low flying military aircraft.

But in a change from the previous application the effort centred on the lighting scheme which would be needed to warn aircraft pilots of the structure at night – a condition would be attached to the planning permission asking for details.

Cllr Karl Lewis (Reform UK – Llandinam with Dolfor) pointed said: “In the conditions there is no information on the type of lighting that is proposed.”

He added that Bannau  Brycheiniog National Park Authority had continued to oppose the scheme on visual impact despite Natural Resources Wales (NRW) saying: “There isn’t.”

Cllr Lewis said: “With what’s coming there, there will be a significant impact, I know we’re not allowed to talk about it.

“You can choose to chuck this out chair, but I propose to go against officer recommendations to do with MOD low flying aircraft.”

Ms James said that the condition would include providing the location, height and the position of lights on the mast as well as their specifications.

“If something unacceptable were to be submitted then the MOD (Ministry of Defence) would object to that,” said Ms James.

Cllr Lewis said: “We haven’t seen that detail, and it should be in the pack for us to see.”

Cllr Gareth Pugh (Conservative – Dolforwyn) seconded the proposal.

Cllr David Selby (Liberal Democrat – Newtown Central) came in to propose supporting the officer’s recommendation and this was seconded by Cllr Corinna Kenyon-Wade (Liberal Democrat – Knighton with Beguildy).

Committee chairman, Cllr Gareth D Jones (Powys Independents – Llanfair Caereinion and Llanerfyl) said: “I’m going to be swift on this, for the same reasons as previously, I won’t take the proposal to go against.”

This is due to concerns that it would be difficult to defend at appeal.

The committee then moved to vote on supporting the officer recommendation and approve the scheme.

This saw four councillors vote in favour and four against.

Cllr Jones asked for advice: “It’s not in the protocol whether there is a casting vote for the chairman, but I’m 99.9 per cent sure from previous committees that it was at the discretion of the chairman.”

This was confirmed and Cllr Jones cast his vote in favour of the application.

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