Fears of turbines' effect on town

Welshpool Town Council fears thousands of lorries used to carry wind turbines to a proposed site in Powys will end up destroying the town.

Protesters believe one of the routes proposed by West Coach Energy for its planned windfarm of turbines, measuring 262ft, at Cefn Coch near Llanfair Caereinion, should not be allowed.

They claim it will put the safety of residents at risk and damage the "fabric" of the historic town centre.

At a meeting of town council yesterday, Councillor John Meredith said: "We are disturbed by the fact we have not been consulted on an application which requires extensive transport through the town of Welshpool."

But he said the council may have no other choice but to accept what was going on.

He said: "If transport is going to be routed through the town centre there must be a community benefit for the town, a bond to ensure that any road damage is put right properly and not in a sub-standard way."

He called for full consultation and surveys of all the routes proposed.

Robert Robinson, council clerk, said developers for a planned 43 turbine windfarm in Llanbrynmair, were also looking at transporting the turbines through the town.

He said the matter would be discussed at the next planning meeting on June 10.