Controversial Weather Mast Plans Near Staylittle Approved after Second Attempt

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a weather mast near Staylittle have been approved by Powys councillors at the second time of asking, and six months after the original application was rejected.
The planning application for a 122.5 metre meteorological mast by Esgair Galed Energy Park Limited was back in front of Powys County Council’s Planning, Taxi Licensing and Rights of Way meeting today, (Thursday, September 19) for a decision.
Esgair Galed Energy Park Ltd is the development vehicle for Bute Energy, which specialises in wind and solar energy parks.
A decision on the application had been postponed by councillors in June, while a previous version of the application was rejected in March.
The application has been opposed by local resident from nearby Dylife, Staylittle and Llwynygog who submitted 104 objections to the council during the consultation process.
This is because the mast may prove to be a precursor to a development of 220 metre-high wind turbines.
As the application had been deferred committee chairman Powys Independents Cllr Gareth D Jones explained that there would be no public speakers for or against the scheme.
Also, councillors who were not present at the meeting in June were also barred from taking part.
Again, planning officers recommended approval.
Labour’s Cllr Huw Williams wanted assurances that the application was for a weather mast and not a wind farm as he believed the updated report specifically linked them.
Cllr Williams said: “I need absolute clarification that we are taking the mast on its own, because on page 37 the principle of development is associated with the future development of wind turbines.”
He said that reading this part of the planning officer’s report “did throw me.”
Cllr Williams said: “To me, it ties it in.”
Planning professional lead Peter Morris said: “It is not an application for a wind farm development, and we have to determine the application on its own merit.
“If it was a wind farm development, we would be considering a lot more issues and policy requirements than what’s in front of us. ”
Under planning policy all energy production developments of 10MW (Megawatts) and over in Wales are classed as Developments of National Significance (DNS).
This type of application is processed and decided by Welsh Government planning inspectors at PEDW (Planning and Environment Decisions Wales).
Mr Morris said: “Nowadays what we have with large scale wind farms is a separate consenting regime,
“There is no energy being generated by this development, it is what it is, a meteorological mast in its own right, which does not prejudice or predetermine what might follow.
“I hope that gives some assurance.”
Cllr Williams said: “I understand what is being said but I’m not absolutely convinced by it.”
Liberal Democrat, Cllr Claire Hall said that the application was “obviously” for testing wind speed for something in the future, but believed this would not “bind” the committee on subsequent applications.
Cllr Hall said: “If the windspeeds are not up to scratch there may not be anything further down the line.”
Cllr Hall moved a motion to accept the officer recommendations and approve the application.
Powys Independents Cllr Gareth E Jones seconded the motion.
The committee moved to a vote and 10 councillors voting for the mast and one against.
The Esgair Galed Windfarm wind turbine scheme, which was revealed in January, would lie northwest of Llanidloes, southeast of Machynlleth and south of Llanbrynmair.
If built the wind turbines would create 171 MW of electricity which would be enough to power between 113,000 and 179,000 households a year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​