Dairy farm wind turbine bid faces rejection
Controversial plans for a wind turbine at a dairy farm on the Shropshire/Mid Wales border could be thrown out after planning chiefs described it as "visually intrusive".
The owners of Parc Isaf, Llanrhaedr Ym Mochnant, near Oswestry, want to build the 34.2 metre high turbine on their farm, but Powys County Council's planning committee is expected to refuse planning permission at a meeting on Thursday.
It is the second time plans have been put forward for the 500-acre farm, which is run by GR Lewis & Son and includes a 16,000 free range poultry unit. A previous bid for a 48-metre high wind turbine was withdrawn.
But the latest application has been led to dozens of objections by people who say it is out of character with the area and will spoil the view.
It has also been opposed by Llanrhaeadr Community Council and Llangedwyn Community Council which described the turbine as "totally inappropriate".
Councillor Aled Davies, Powys County Council member for Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and Llansilin, said: "I cannot support this application because for its detrimental effects on an historic landscape and its proximity to Llanrhaeadr village and other nearby houses.
"The turbine will be highly visible from a main road and out of scale with surrounding landscape features. This application could be the first of many which would result in cumulative impact, once the first application is granted, would it be fair to reject the next?
"The proposal is completely inappropriate for the Tanat Valley, an historical landscape, It will dominate the valley and open the door to further such applications and it will have hugely damaging effects on the visitor economy."
John Pearson, planning officer for Powys County Council, said: "It is considered that the turbine would constitute a prominent incongruous feature which interrupts the continuity and character of the rolling landscape in which it is set which is characterised by a historic rolling plateau farmland complex typified by smaller irregular field patterns."
The planning committee will also decide on an application for a single turbine at a farm at Bryn Cwmyrhiwdre, Dolfor, near Newtown. The application, by VE Lewis & Son, is for a single 50kW wind turbine with a blade tip height of 34.37metres.
It has been recommended for approval on condition noise from the turbine will not exceed 35 decibels.
Thursday's meeting will be held at Neuadd Maldwyn in Severn Street, Welshpool, starting at 10am.
