Campaigners gather to fight turbine route

Nearly 100 people gathered to protest against plans to transport windfarm parts through the centre of Welshpool. Campaigners fear that thousands of delivery lorries will pass through.

Welshpool Town Council held a "peaceful" demonstration outside a meeting at the town's Neuadd Maldwyn offices yesterday.

About 80 people turned out to campaign against any turbine transportation from going through the town on the way to proposed windfarms in Mid Wales.

But John Evans, communications manager for Powys County Council, the local planning authority, said the meeting was not about windfarm transportation.

He said: "County council officials held a liaison meeting with community councils yesterday.

"On the agenda was an item about windfarms but it was purely to give an update on the amount of applications which have so far been submitted to planners."

Robert Robinson, town council clerk, said the demonstration had given people the opportunity to make their opinions known.

He said: "We as a town council are totally against these transport proposals and will be doing everything in our power to stop this from happening.

"We are disturbed by the fact we have not been consulted more on windfarm applications which require extensive transport through the town of Welshpool."

One of the protesters, Pauline Close, of Welshpool, said: "It beggars belief that they are even considering it."