Longer convoys idea for turbine lorries coming to Mid Wales roads

Businesses in Welshpool say increasing the number of lorries in the convoys would result in fewer journeys being necessary during the bus tourist season.

A public meeting in Welshpool was called to address a number of issues including the effect the vehicles will have on the area, after Wales transport minister Edwina Hart confirmed work on the Tirgwynt Wind Farm, between Cefn Coch and Carno, will go ahead this August.

The turbines will be 383 feet high.

Town residents and traders met the wind farm's transport company in a bid to find out what impact the convoys will have during the summer months.

Mrs Hart said turbine transporters will travel along the busy A483 from Oswestry, passing through central Welshpool towards Castle Caereinion and along the B4385 through Cefn Coch to Tirgwynt. The meeting was called after issues were raised during a discussion at the last Welshpool Business Forum meeting.

Deputy mayor and councillor Steve Kaye, also chairman of Welshpool Business Forum, chaired the meeting held in the Council Chamber of Welshpool Town Hall on Monday night.

He said although the times of the convoys weren't given, they were told they would start from July 30 to September. "The difficulty for traders is this will be taking place during the tourist season and bank holidays," he said.

"We were told that one convoy would be travelling six days a week comprising of two large lorries but one suggestion from a trader was adding another lorry, so it would be three lorries per convoy, that would cut the days by a third."

Sara Powell-Davies, communications manager for RenewableUK Cymru, said a strategic Traffic Management Plan (sTMP) for Mid Wales Wind Farms had been developed to manage the delivery of turbine components.

"The convoy will be accompanied by a police escort at all times to ensure the safety of other road users and the free flow of traffic," she said.