Concerns over traffic on Shropshire and Mid Wales roads for wind farms

Work is due to begin soon on the Tirgwynt and Garreg Llwyd wind farms in south Powys, with lorries carrying parts for the giant turbines expected to pass along the A483 between Welshpool and Oswestry.

Dilys Gaskill, chairwoman of Llanymynech & Pant Parish Council, said the construction raises many questions and concerns for villagers.

"The main concern is the state of the road. There's all the potholes and if it's extra large vehicles in the convoys, what's that going to do to the state of the road?" she said.

"Then there's all the people moving about in the village, using the shops, going to school or work. What time of day will the convoy travel? How will it affect those people?

"We need to have more information on how they're going to cope with the size of the vehicles going through and whether they will do anything about the damage likely to be caused to the road by these vehicles."

Russell George, Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire, raised the issue in the National Assembly with the First Minister, Carwyn Jones AM, asking for reassurances that disruption for local people would be kept to a minimum.

Speaking with Mr Jones, Mr George said: "It is essential that the Welsh Government do not allow large turbine components for the Tirgwynt and Garreg Llwyd wind farms to be moved during busy periods.

"There are serious traffic issues in and around Newtown, which will continue until the Newtown bypass is complete.

"I'm concerned that the general travelling public, including tourists, should not be disadvantaged more than is necessary."

Mr George said the Minister had confirmed that his officials have been working with developers to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.

But he added: "I remain sceptical and will continue to scrutinise movement plans."

During the planning inquiry into the wind farms it was revealed that a convoy of lorries carrying wind turbine parts could bring main roads through Mid Wales and Shropshire to a halt five days a week for up to five years.

The abnormal load lorries would pass through the region en route from Ellesmere Port to the site of the wind farms in Mid Wales every day for three to five years. This would see lorries go down the A483 past Wrexham, into Shropshire at Oswestry and then into Powys en route to one of the five planned wind farms.

However the companies behind the wind farms have said that as the convoy moves along the roads passing traffic could be delayed for up to 10 minutes, but the convoy would have regular stops in passing places.