Second set of turbine convoys to bring upheaval to Shropshire and Mid Wales roads

Lorries are currently carrying turbine blades and parts up to 45-metres-long through the narrow section of the A483 trunk road from Oswestry to Welshpool on a daily basis. The Tirgwynt wind farm convoys are scheduled to head to Carno for up to six days a week until the middle of September.

Today it was revealed a separate set of turbine deliveries are to travel on a similar route, with trial runs starting on Friday.

The development is an extra headache for people living on the route as well as families from across Shropshire and the West Midlands attempting to reach the Welsh coast.

The new convoys will be destined for Garreg Lwyd Hill wind farm between Felindre and Llanbadarn Fynydd in Radnorshire, where work is scheduled to start in mid-September and last until Christmas.

These convoys will be travelling through Newtown, where a £56 million bypass is being created in a bid to lessen serious long-term congestion problems that build up at traffic lights in the centre of the town.

Renewable Energy Systems Limited has sent a letter to homes and businesses along the turbine delivery route for Garreg Lwyd Hill Wind Farm to provide advance notice of Friday's trial run.

RES spokeswoman Samantha Mayes said: "The timings of the trial run are dependent on a number of factors including police availability.

"Updates will be published on our project website as timeframes become known so we have encouraged people to check the day before the scheduled trial run for the latest information on when it is expected to begin.

"The purpose of the trial run is to undertake a drive through of the delivery route with an empty abnormal indivisible load vehicle to confirm the roadworks along the A483 which have been ongoing over the past six months are suitable and that the turbine components can be delivered to site with minimal disruption.

"It is also an opportunity for the police to finalise the escorting arrangements for the delivery of the turbine components that will travel from the port of entry in Liverpool to the Garreg Lwyd Hill wind farm site located between Felindre and Llanbadarn Fynydd starting in September.

"The new temporary link road connecting the Mochdre Industrial Estate to the A483 will be tested at a later date."

She said the full programme of convoys to Garreg Lwyd Hill will start on September 12.

So far, residents along the route have complained about the disruption caused by the convoys.

Councillor Dilys Gaskill, chairman of Llanymynech and Pant Parish Council, said the road infrastructure was a problem, adding: "If we had a bypass, like they do in Nesscliffe, the convoys would be sailing down the road with no problems at all. The convoys are still very disruptive to our daily lives."

Awel Newydd Cyf, the company behind the current convoys say residents have been kept up-to-date.