Call to scrap wind farm plans as inquiry to begin

An application was first submitted by Hendy Wind Farm Ltd in 2014, to build seven wind turbines at Llandegley Rocks, near Llandrindod Wells.

The application was refused by Powys County Council's planning committee in April 2017, however developers appealed the decision with the planning inspectorate.

A public inquiry will open on Tuesday March 13 at the Pavilion in Llandrindod Wells, and the Open Spaces Society, who have objected to the plans from the outset, have renewed their calls for the application to again be refused.

The group believes it would destroy the views from the rocks, interfere with public paths and land access, and stated it could be unlawful.

General secretary, Kate Ashbrook: "The land on which it is proposed to construct at least four of the seven turbines and their associated development is part of an area inclosed in 1885 by inclosure awards for Llandegley Rhos and Hendy Bank.

"These awards grant the public a right of access here and protect the land from injury. Clearly, it would be contrary to the awards to build wind turbines on the awarded land."

"The access track to the turbines would be sited on common land.

"The applicants would have to win consent from the Welsh ministers to de-register the common and provide suitable land in exchange to which the public does not already enjoy access.

"We doubt there is any such land in the area that would be eligible. The applicants would also need consent for works on common land.

"So there are a number of technical reasons why the turbines cannot be sited here, in addition to the fact that they will destroy a beautiful area."

The application was originally recommended for approval by planners, but the Powys planning committee voted to refused permission.

At the time, the developers insisted they had support from the relevant landowners, and insisted they had all the rights required for planning permission.

Miss Ashbrook added: "One can wander freely over Llandegley Rocks, and there are also several public paths.

"People walk and ride here because of the magnificent landscape and fine views.

"The wind turbines would deter them from doing so and would result in loss of the tourist income which is a pillar of the local economy.

"We have urged the inspector to reject the appeal and ensure this beautiful, much-loved landscape can remain unspoilt."