Go-ahead for weather mast in Powys despite objections
A planning inspector has given the go-ahead for a 122.5-metre weather mast on common land near Builth Wells despite a wave of objections.
Powys County Council's planning committee in January agreed an application from Aberedw Energy Park Limited to allow the weather mast at Aberedw Hill to be sited there for a five year period.
Aberedw Energy Park Limited is also behind proposals to build 18 wind turbines at the site, which is on common lean three kilometres east of Builth Wells.
The company is the development vehicle for Bute Energy, which specialises in wind and solar energy parks.
But before anything can be build there the firm needed to receive common land consent to allow the work to take place, and lodged a commons consent application with PEDW (Planning and Environment Decision Wales) in December 2024.
RECOMMENDED READING:
The report from PEDW said that 31 'individual representations' had been submitted which raised several concerns including:
'Catastrophic impact on birdlife on the common, and that the supporting wires will pose a danger to various birds, including lapwings, curlews, red kites, buzzards and ospreys;
'The height of the mast would have a detrimental visual impact on the area, the landscape and historic environment, including the cumulative impact of other proposed schemes in the wider area; Harmful impact on tourism and the economy.'
Concerns were also raised about a 'potential danger' to low flying military aircraft and paragliders, the air ambulance and hot air balloons.
Planning inspector Richard Duggan visited the site last month.
He said: 'A number of objections have raised concerns regarding the impact on biodiversity, including impact upon birdlife.
'I note that Powys County Council 's ecologist raised no objection to the planning application subject to the imposition of conditions.
'Having regard to the evidence before me I am satisfied that biodiversity
enhancement and the protection of ecological and ornithological interests on the common could be achieved through the conditions imposed on the planning permission for the works.'
'In my view there would be no fundamental changes to the
underlying key characteristics of the local landscape and changes to the visual context of the area would only occur relatively close to the site.'
On the looming wind turbine proposal in the background, Mr Duggan said: 'Any such windfarm development, would be subject to a separate future DNS (Development of National Significance) application where its effects on the living conditions of nearby residents, on the common and wider landscape would be fully considered.
'Therefore, concerns regarding a possible future wind farm, the design or extent of which is currently unknown, and not directly relevant to this
application.'
Due to this he said he would 'allow the application and grant consent for the
works'.
If built the wind turbines could generate 108 megawatts (MW) of electricity which would be enough to power the equivalent of 97,000 homes a year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
a day ago
- Powys County Times
Powys council pays tribute as UK marks Armed Forces Day
Powys County Council has paid tribute to members of the Armed Forces and their families ahead of this year's national day of recognition. The council has expressed its gratitude to UK service personnel as the country prepares to observe Armed Forces Day. This year's event carries added importance as it coincides with the 80th anniversary commemorations of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day. Councillor Matthew Dorrance, deputy leader of Powys County Council, said: "Armed Forces Day is a moment to reflect on the dedication and bravery of our Armed Forces. "I want to express my sincere gratitude to all those who serve and have served in uniform. "I am immensely proud of our servicemen and servicewomen – their commitment represents the highest form of public service." Cllr Dorrance, who also serves as the council's Armed Forces Champion and chairs the Armed Forces Covenant Regional Partnership Powys, added: "I encourage residents to take part in local events, fly the flag, and show their appreciation – whether by attending a parade, sharing messages of support on social media, or simply thanking a veteran or service member in your community. "Every gesture counts."
Powys County Times
a day ago
- Powys County Times
New IT 'will defend Powys Council from cyber attack'
New IT will help protect Powys County Council against a cyber attack, council chiefs believe. At a meeting of the Governance and Audit committee on Friday, June 20, councillors and lay members received a report on the council's strategic risk register for the last quarter of 2024/2025 (January to end of March). The report says that the digital services department want to de-escalate the risk that the council's 'information and systems will be vulnerable to a cyberattack' from phishing emails. If senior councillors agree to this, the risk will drop down to be managed by a departmental risk register. Cllr Graham Breeze (Powys Independents) said: 'I'm really uncomfortable that we're asking for this to be de-escalated. 'The current situation we live in, worldwide massive organisations such as Marks and Spencer have come under a huge attack which has cost that company over £300 million to date. 'I'm interested to know how we feel so confident that we have control over this that we can de-escalate a risk I would consider to be one of the biggest we have as an authority. 'The sheer significance of this authority being hit by a cyberattack is unthinkable.' He wanted to be convinced that the council had a 'super system' to defend it from cyberattack. Head of digital services Ellen Sullivan said: 'The risk remains high, what is reduced is threat. 'We've actually purchased and deployed extra phishing software, so we have that across all our systems that detects any phishing concerns.' She added that extra 'phishing training' for staff had also been rolled out by the council. This means that 'fake emails' are sent out to test whether staff each month. Ms Sullivan explained that staff who click on the fake emails would then be given 'refresher training'. Cllr Chris Walsh (Labour) said: 'Cyber criminals will change their behaviour and tactics on a regular basis, it's not a stationary situation it's an evolving one. 'Reducing it feels slightly complacent.' Cabinet member for customers, digital and community services, Cllr Raiff Devlin (Liberal Democrat) said: 'There is no complacency here whatsoever. 'The council has invested significantly into its cyber defence. 'While members are absolutely correct to point out it's a dynamic environment, the key to maintaining our defence is our ongoing investment and there is a commitment by the cabinet to do just that. 'So, I feel that we are managing this risk appropriately and I'm reassured that the department has what it needs in place to do that.'
Powys County Times
a day ago
- Powys County Times
Letter: Welsh politics is an worsening expensive shambles
MP David Chadwick's column (County Times June 6) caused me to grieve at the histrionics of young career politicians. I congratulate him on his progress, despite setbacks, to a £93,904 MP's salary in Westminster, from April 2025, plus expenses and generous pension arrangements. His pension, unlike the state pension for the rest of us, is fully funded, so no surprise there. But penning his thoughts on the 'onslaught of pressure' to farmers, was he aware of Powys County Council's predominately Lib Dem Cabinet's decision to sell some of Powys's county-owned farms? This picking of long held 'low hanging fruit' to boost council coffers, bare through weak management across the entire county council, is short-sighted and disgraceful. This year's council tax increase is 8.9% with inflation at 3.5% (CPI). Next year, who knows? So, cost cutting across the board should be top priority. There is no alternative. Any talk of growth being sufficient to pay ever burgeoning county council costs is bunkum. If the MP was aware of the farm evictions, his column is spurious - if he was not aware, he should have been, and perhaps he and Powys's other MP, Steve Witherden, should get their heads together and bring the strongest pressure to bear on the County Council. Alongside, avoiding the political divide, Senedd members for Powys, Russell George and James Evans, should engage too. As opposed to evictions (CT June 13), cash strapped Powys County Council's cabinet members for a Fairer Powys and a More Prosperous Powys seem keen to welcome a possible 'asylum seekers' deal'. This would see the national government or Senedd handing over 'Cash to boost Powys housing stock'. For whose benefit - for displaced tenant farming families - surely not? Welsh politics is an expensive shambles, shortly to become more so, if a further 36 under-qualified lightweights join the Senedd, ready to plunder the public purse in 2026 - with a likely extra cost of £18 million annually, rising remorselessly.
