Wind farm consultation events planned

Officials at Vattenfall, the company behind the project, said they intend to build the Mynydd Lluest y Graig windfarm close to Llanerfyl, near Llanfair Caereinion, and want to receive feedback from the public.

The windfarm will include between 25 and 35 wind turbines and it is hoped detailed plans will be submitted within the next two years.

As the development would exceed 50 megawatts in capacity, the plans will be determined by the UK Government following extensive community and local authority consultation by Vattenfall.

Ruari Lean, senior development manager at Vattenfall, said: "The project is in the very earliest stages of development, and we want to make sure that local people are involved from the beginning to shape the project, and share with us their key issues and discuss potential opportunities.

"Initial studies, investigations and consultations, including these first of several information sessions, are being undertaken in relation to the site. Therefore the exact layout, scale and generating capacity of Mynydd Lluest y Graig has not yet been determined.

"The public drop-in sessions will present, and seek feedback on,the proposed consultation programme, potential community benefits and initial information on environmental considerations.

"As the proposed development is for a wind farm with a capacity of more than 50MW it is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).

"Vattenfall hopes to submit an application to the Planning Inspectorate, which runs the NSIP process, in 2016."

The proposed windfarm combines Vattenfall's previous Mynydd Waun Fawr windfarm proposal, which was submitted to Powys County Council in 2007, with a more recent neighbouring early stage windfarm proposal known as Rhyd Ddu.

Vattenfall took the decision in 2013 to withdraw the Mynydd Waun Fawr application and combine it with the Rhyd Ddu site to create a single combined scheme that can be designed to maximise local benefit and minimise cumulative impacts.

The public drop-in sessions will be held on June 24 at Adfa Village Hall near Newtown between noon and 7.30pm, Llanfair Caereinion Public Institute on June 25 from noon to 7.30pm, Llanerfyl Hall on June 26 from 2pm to 7pm, Llanbrynmair Community Centre on June 27 from noon to 7.30pm, and Carno Community Centre on June 28 from 11.30am to 4.30pm.