Sheep may be used in windfarm protest

Six sheep with small wind turbines attached to them may travel to London in a bid to prevent thousands of wind turbine lorries travelling through a Mid Wales town.

It forms part of several protests planned by Welshpool Town Council. Robert Robinson, council clerk, said the demonstrations, which are expected to take place some time over the next few months, would give people a chance to get their voices heard.

It comes after a government inspector threw out plans for a windfarm near Market Drayton on Wednesday.

The Planning Inspectorate was called in after Nuon appealed against a decision by the former North Shropshire District Council to refuse permission for the turbines at Lower Farm, Bearstone, near Market Drayton.

Campaigners feared the turbines would have a detrimental effect on the landscape and would cause noise.

Mr Robinson said it was now up to residents and town councillors to do everything in their power to stop any turbine transportation going through the town.

He said: "The town council's planning committee considered various ways of highlighting their objection to transport windfarms via Welshpool town centre.

"The committee felt I should arrange with councillors a number of protests to highlight the council and community concerns with regard to windfarm transport.

"I have recommended we should drive six sheep with small wind turbines attached to their collars over a London bridge."

He said other recommendations, which will go before Welshpool Town Council's full meeting on Wednesday, would include writing to every county councillor seeking support for a public inquiry.

He said: "I also think we should drive as many cars around the town centre at 5pm and each vehicle should have small wind farm models on each roof to demonstrate the effect. We are also planning to arrange a demonstration and march with all community councils over the next few months."

He added: "We, as I'm sure many other community councils, are disturbed by the fact we have not been consulted more on windfarm applications which require extensive transport through the town of Welshpool.

"We find any transport of windfarm equipment going through our town centre is unacceptable because it will damage the fabric of the historic town centre."