Powys council reassures wind developers over planning "delay"
Tuesday 12 August 2008
Powys county council has dismissed claims that it will not decide on future wind farm plans until the local road network is improved as a "misunderstanding", writes Rachel Johnson.
However, the council, along with the Welsh Assembly, has hired a team of consultants to look into concerns that local transport links are "inadequate" for the needs of wind farm developers.
The Council has not made any policy statement regarding wind farms.
It explained that planning applications cannot be given a green light until negotiations with developers concerning issues are complete, and these negotiations will include ensuring that transport arrangements are sufficient.
But, chief executive Mark Kerr confirmed that there had been no decision to halt the wind farm planning process in the county.
Reports of a delay surfaced last week after Powys councillor Wynne Jones, who holds the portfolio for regeneration and development, said the council had decided to put all current and expected wind power applications on hold because of an issue with transporting the turbines to upland areas by road.
Councillor Wynne Jones was unavailable for comment. But in a statement to New Energy Focus, Mr Kerr sought to reassure developers that wind farm applications will still be considered.
He said: "The Council has not made any policy statement regarding wind farms. Currently, both the council as the local highway authority, and the Welsh Assembly Government, as highway authority for trunk roads in Wales, are in discussions with the wind farm developers regarding access issues.
"Once these negotiations are completed, both highway authorities will make recommendations to the council's planning committee," Mr Kerr said.
A spokesman for the council added that the outcome of planning applications were for the council to decide, rather than a single councillor.
Assembly
The Welsh Assembly expects 10% of electricity generated in Wales to come from renewable sources by 2010.
Under the Assembly's Technical Advisory Note for renewable energy planning (TAN 8), two of the seven areas in Wales indicated as suitable for wind turbines are located within Powys - at Carno North and Newtown South. A small portion of a third Strategic Search Area (SSA) under TAN8 - Nant-y-Moch - also lies within Powys.
For the main two SSAs within Powys, the Welsh Assembly has suggested a maximum potential capacity of 290MW (about 150 turbines) and 70MW (about 35 turbines) respectively.
Commenting on the Powys situation, a spokesman for the Assembly government said yesterday: "The Assembly Government is supportive of wind farm schemes, appropriately located and subject to proper controls. We will continue to work to meet our aim to make Wales self-sufficient in renewable energy in 20 years."
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