Barn plans for Llowes near Hay on Wye are approved by committee

The application by Edward Morris of Milton Farm, Pembridge near Leominster in Herefordshire, is for a steel portal framed building measuring 18.3 metres long, 24.4 metres wide and at it’s highest 10.8 metres, on land near Llowes Court just outside the village of Llowes.

It will be used to keep farming machinery and arable crops.

The application was discussed at Powys County Council’s planning committee on Thursday, April 8 as it has been “called in” the local county councillor James Gibson-Watt.

Cllr Gibson-Watt believes that the application could affect the “sensitive landscape” of the Wye Valley and because it is close to three listed buildings, Llowes Court, the former Radnor Arms pub and St Meilig’s church in Llowes.

At the meeting Christopher Counsell was one of two objectors who spoke against the application, and believed was that it should be re-sited to a safer place due to highway concerns.

Mr Counsell said: “The application should be modified for three reasons.

“A review of the causes of 10 crashes, and modelling the additional impact of mud on the road should be carried out as a risk assessment for the village, with an intent of reducing the speed to 30 mph before any development can start.”

Secondly, Mr Counsell, told councillors that the barn should be kept away from a tributary of the river Wye, where protected species such as Otters live.

He added that the building should be made of material more suited to a historic landscape.

Councillor Emily Durrant who is standing for the Green Party at the Senedd Election in the Brecon and Radnorshire constituency, as well as on the Mid and West Wales regional list for the party, said: “I have sympathy for the speakers, there are real problems with the highway in Llowes, the local member or the police need to sort that out.

“I don’t really think it’s going to be exacerbated by this development.

“I don’t have concerns about the landscape either, it’s a very agricultural area and there are plenty of agricultural sheds, we need to be supporting farmers to continue working their land.”

Committee vice-chairman, Councillor Gareth Jones said: “I think of all the agricultural buildings that have come before us, this is very well screened naturally, mud on the road is another matter and most farmers are very willing to address these situations.”

Cllr Jones said that he was ready to move the proposal to a vote which was seconded by Councillor David Price

The application was approved by 14 votes in favour and one against.