Wind turbine applications to go before planners
Four planning applications which could lead to six wind turbines being built on private land across Mid Wales will go before council planning chiefs this week.
Three of the applications are for single wind turbines.
They would be built in Llanerfyl, near Welshpool, Mochdre, at Newtown, and Llanbrynmair, near Machynlleth.
The fourth application is for three wind turbines in Cyfronydd, near Welshpool.
All of them will be discussed by Powys County Council's planning committee on Thursday.
The Llanerfyl and Mochdre applications are recommended for approval, but the Llanbrynmair and Cyfronydd applications are expected to be refused.
The Llanerfyl application is for a 50kw turbine with a blade height of 34.2metres (112 feet).
It is planned for farmland at Pant yr Hendre and is being opposed by Llanerfyl Community Council because of its "vast height" and visual impact.
Angharad Richards, council planning officer, says in her report that the proposed turbine would be on the hillside, 500 metres to the east of the farmyard at Pant yr Hendre, which is described as an upland livestock farm.
She adds: "It is recommended that the council gives the application consent.
"Given the national context, it would be difficult to withstand such a proposal on landscape grounds."
The application for Mochdre is for a 50kw wind turbine with blade height of 34.4metres on farmland used by cows and sheep.
The application has been supported by Mochdre with Penstrowed Community Council due to it only being one turbine and is recommended for approval.
However, 55 residents have signed a petition opposing the plans on the grounds that the wind turbine will be an "eyesore" and too big for the area.
The application for a single 50kw turbine, with a blade height of 38.38metres (127 feet), on land at Hirnant, Llanbrynmair, has been recommended for refusal by Mrs Richards.
The report says 58 letters of objection have been received and they argue that it will spoil views.
Finally, the application for three 5kw turbines with a blade height of 20.7 metres (67 feet) in Cyfronydd is also recommended for refusal on the grounds that the turbines will be visible from surrounding hillsides and ridges as well as the main A458 road.
The meeting will be held at Neuadd Maldwyn, Severn Road, Welshpool at 10am on Thursday.
