Anger at mystery on times for wind turbine lorry trials

People are being left in the dark over the planned dates and times of test runs for lorries delivering to windfarms in Mid Wales, it has been claimed.

Campaigners fighting to prevent hundreds of turbines and pylons from being built across Shropshire and Mid Wales said today that they were being kept out of the loop over when lorries would be travelling along busy roads.

It comes after an empty 50-foot long trailer mimicking an abnormal load travelled along the A470 trunk road towards Caersws, near Newtown, yesterday.

Motorists were left facing lengthy delays along the A470 between Llanidloes and Caersws at about 2pm yesterday.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed it had sent an escort to help the lorries and there had been no incidents but it failed to provide a time estimate of the run beforehand.

Campaigner Michele Lloyd, of Kerry, near Newtown, said: "We want to get people taking pictures and video footage of these trial runs to record any damage and danger that these loads cause.

"The Welsh Assembly managed to give us a day of when this particular run would be but could not provide us details with estimates of times.

"I think people need to be told a lot more because no-one seems to be communicating with each other and we keep on getting different dates and times from various organisations and people.

"It just doesn't seem right when these abnormal loads will end up having a big effect on the region's roads."

John Evans, communications manager for Powys County Council, said the authority had been made aware of yesterday's trial run but no specified times of when the load would in Powys, had been given to them.

He added that the authority had also been told about today's trial between Bronllys, near Brecon, and Crossgates, near Llandrindod Wells.

He said: "This test will be under police escort and we will be monitoring its progress throughout the morning. Everything is being done to reduce the impact for residents and drivers but there many be some short delays."

By Anwen Evans