Traffic fears over windfarm construction

The decommissioning of an old windfarm at Llandinam and the creation of a replacement will also lead to 272 abnormal loads travelling to the site over the two years of building, developers told a public inquiry.

The windfarm was one of three discussed at the inquiry held in Welshpool. Campaigners against the windfarms say the traffic will cause congestion and may damage buildings.

It is proposed to build wind farms in Llanbadarn Fynydd, near Llandrindod Wells; Llaithddu, near Newtown; Llandinam, near Llanidloes; Llanbrynmair, near Machynlleth; Carnedd Wen, near Machynlleth; with a 132kV overhead power line from a Llandinam windfarm to the Welshpool substation.

The plans are being fought by The Alliance group, made up of 21 organisations, together with Powys County Council.

The inquiry at the Royal Oak heard from the prospective developers of windfarms at Llandinam, Llaithddu and Llanbadarn.

They spoke of the projected number of vehicles that will use the A483 and the smaller roads leading to the three sites.

David Tucker, of CeltPower Ltd, which is behind the plans for the decommissioning and rebuilding of the windfarm at Llandinam, said construction was expected to take two years. He said, at its height, construction work would see 190 two-way light vehicle movements and 62 heavy goods vehicle two-way movements a day.

It meant an extra 81,000 vehicles on the roads over two years he said.

Figures for the other sites were 114 two-way trips for Llaithddu and 66 for Llanbadarn Fynydd during the busiest months of construction.

Speaking against the Llaithddu site, resident Richard Barnfield told yesterday's meeting: "This will cause gridlock on the A483 and inevitably there will be damage to properties."

Mr Michael Halsey, who lives next to the planned windfarm at Llanbadarn, said: "I am concerned for the historic toll house at Dolfor, next to the road.

"It would have been built without foundations and damage from the vibrations of traffic could be enormous."