Latest news with #PlanningandEnvironmentDecisionsWales
South Wales Argus
22-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Mynydd Maen windfarm to have 'negative impact' says council
A decision on whether to grant approval for the Mynydd Maen windfarm, west of Cwmbran and south of Pontypool, which would have 13 turbines with a height to their blade of 149 metres, will have to be decided by the Welsh Government but Torfaen Borough Council has had to compile a local impact report. That has concluded overall, the impact on the landscape and visual amenity of Torfaen would be 'negative' and the impact on residential amenity is also judged to be 'negative'. The report, which will be submitted to Welsh planning body Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), was presented to Torfaen Borough Council's planning committee at its May meeting. Among concerns raised by councillors was the potential impact on birds of prey, and it was acknowledged the turbines could kill around two every day. The proposed development area covers 376 hectares, of which around 120 is within Torfaen and the remainder within Caerphilly County Borough Council's area and much of it within the Abercarn Visually Important Local Landscape while part of its south eastern corner is within Torfaen's special upland landscape area. Most of the site is within the area that has been pre-assessed by the Welsh Government where there is a presumption in favour of wind generation. Pontypool independent councillor Mark Jones said the turbines would be nearly 150m: 'To put that into context of pylons 150m is around 500 foot high the average pylon is 150 foot. These are absolutely monstrous things.' Cllr Jones said he also didn't understand how the area was proposed when Welsh policy states large scale wind farms won't be permitted in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 'Anybody who has been on Mynydd Maen and can tell me that's not an area of outstanding natural beauty, then I don't know what is,' said Cllr Jones. Planning officer Justin Jones explained an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a 'particular designation in law' which he said the area hasn't been designated but acknowledged it has 'unique features' but has also been assessed as being acceptable for windfarm developments. Mr Jones said details of nesting sites for red kites and peregrine falcons couldn't be publicly disclosed but applicants Renewable Energy Systems has proposed mitigations as part of its assessments It also wants permission to move the siting of the turbines 50 metres in any direction which Mr Jones said would have to be considered in relation to its mitigation proposals to protect the birds of prey. Reform UK councillor for Llantarnam, Alan Slade said: 'I've read these turbines can kill up to two raptors everyday. Will there by any assessment of fatalities after these turbines have gone up?' Mr Jones said he understood the 'anticipated kill rate' isn't a dissimilar figure to the one Cllr Slade had mentioned but said there would be mitigations including that a turbine could be switched off. A condition requiring a turbine be switched off will also be suggested as part of measures to control noise if it is found to have an unacceptable impact. The developer will be expected to respond to the issues raised in the council's report which also considers the cumulative impact with other wind farms proposed nearby at Llanhilleth and Abertillery.
Powys County Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Pylon plans threaten to wipe out Powys harness racing event
A POPULAR summer sporting event in Powys could be erased from the calendar by plans to erect pylons across the county, a landowner has warned. Cilmery Harness Races has been a permanent fixture on the summer harness racing schedule for more than a decade. But, plans to scatter the Brecon and Radnorshire countryside with wind turbines and electricity pylons is threatening its future. The event, held every August at Cilmery Farm, on the edge of the village, lies directly in the path of the proposed Green GEN Cymru Towy Usk network, a 60-mile line of pylons through Powys. The route would start at the Nant Mithil Energy Park in the Radnor Forest and cut a swathe right through the heart of Powys, on its way to Carmarthen. Kevin Jones, a third-generation farmer at Cilmery Farm, has been approached by green energy firms, who want to build five pylons on his land – including one proposed on the last corner of the racetrack. 'I'm against it, I don't want the things,' said Kevin, 53, who has worked on the family farm since he was 17. 'I don't want or need them. I'll be looking straight out of my house at them. They look absolutely horrible. It's unspoilt countryside here, there's no pylons for miles around.' Huge changes afoot for school in Powys as consultation begins Man seen smashing car windscreen with broomstick was 'on path to destruction' From redundancy to writer - author's third novel is published by Harper Collins Two races per summer are held on the track, which Kevin agreed to host more than 15 years ago. 'My father-in-law is big into harness racing and he persuaded me to hold the races here,' said Kevin. 'It's a prestigious event locally and on the trotting calendar. I do it for the local community. 'But, it will be finished if or when the pylons go through, because we won't be able to get a licence or insurance for it. It'll be a health and safety nightmare, there's no way can you race round pylons.' Cilmery Farm sits alongside the A483 passing through the village towards Llanwrtyd Wells, with Kevin claiming the pylon on the last corner will have to be raised even higher than the others, because of a dip from the road to the field. The farm will be part of the route linking the Aberedw and Bryn Gilwern Energy Parks projects, either side of neighbouring Builth Wells, to Carmarthen. Kevin was first contacted by Green GEN around two years ago. 'I wanted them to go into another field but they keep coming back to the racecourse field,' he said. 'It's like hitting my head against a brick wall talking to them." 'Because it's a PEDW (Planning and Environment Decisions Wales, which deals with projects of national significance) application, all it takes is for the planning chief in Cardiff to sign it and it'll be go. We have no say.' He added: 'The compensation they're offering is peanuts too. I've been told around £5,000 or 6,000 as a one-off payment, but they haven't really told me. And I don't want it. 'When I contact them they tell me the person I need to speak to is on holiday.' Gareth Williams, grid director at Green GEN Cymru, said previously: 'It's imperative we act swiftly to harness Wales' renewable energy potential and get the green energy generated to the many homes, hospitals, schools, businesses and communities that need it in the rest of Wales and beyond. 'The existing network in Mid Wales does not have nearly enough capacity to connect all the new renewable energy we need, locally and nationally. 'To end the use of fossil fuels we need new infrastructure, and quickly. Our plans for the Towy Usk connection will help build a positive, clean future for us all.'
South Wales Argus
12-05-2025
- South Wales Argus
Homeowner loses appeal over wall blocking access to Monnow
Alex Dawson appealed after being refused retrospective planning permission for the work and claimed a violation of his human rights when he was served with an enforcement notice. That required the removal of the wall and for him to lower the level of the built up ground and return it to its original condition and no longer use the area as part of the garden. Planning inspector Richard Jenkins sided with Monmouthshire County Council and said it was right to refuse planning permission for the works, that had already been completed, and issue the enforcement notice. Mr Jenkins said, in a written decision: 'I am satisfied that the refusal of planning permission would be justified and in pursuit of a legitimate planning aim, namely in the interest of exacerbating flood risks. Indeed, I am satisfied that the decision to refuse planning permission is both reasonable and proportionate and that it is, therefore, justified in light of the available evidence.' The council had, in April last year, refused an application for planning permission for a proposed first floor extension to the existing garage located to the side of Mr Dawson's home, at Monnow Keep in Monmouth while the application also sought retrospective permission for the part of the riverbank to be used as a garden and to keep the wall and fence. In May the council then issued an enforcement notice requiring the land along the bank of the river Monnow be restored and the wall and a fence removed. Mr Dawson appealed both the enforcement notice and refusal to grant planning permission to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW). He disputed access was required by environmental body Natural Resources Wales and said there were alternatives nearby and the land is in his private ownership. Mr Dawson said restoring access would be an intrusion into his human right to protection and enjoyment of property and cause a 'significant risk' of anti-social behaviour which he said was one of the key reasons he'd replaced the gate with a wall and fence. Details of a meeting, before work started, to discuss the proposals with Natural Resources Wales were also provided to the inspector and Mr Dawson also outlined his complaint Monmouthshire council hadn't responded to his request for information before starting the work. Inspector Mr Jenkins said concern about anti-social behaviour didn't meet exceptions in Welsh planning policy to overturn restrictions on developments in flood risk areas and also said the work carried out could make flooding worse. No flood risk consequence report had been provided and Mr Jeknins said: 'Raising of ground levels and the use of retaining walls alongside a riverbank clearly has potential to displace water during a flooding event and thus increase the risk of flooding off-site.' The inspector also said he couldn't determine the dispute over ownership and rights of access but said he wasn't 'convinced' the council's notice required public access be reinstated. Monmouthshire council's May planning committee was told a notice will be issued requiring the land is restored to its former condition.
South Wales Argus
26-04-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Ponthir waste water solar farm plans under consideration
The 123.3 hectare site across 12 parcels of land would have solar panels on frames mounted on the ground with a capacity to generate 46 megawatts of electricity and as such a decision on whether to approve or reject the plan will fall to Welsh Government ministers. A substation for the proposed plant would be located on land within the Welsh Water treatment plant near Ponthir. The 12 parcels of land are east of Ponthir and north of Caerleon and across the boundaries of Monmouthshire, Torfaen and Newport. Some parts of the proposed site are within the Torfaen and Newport special landscape areas while there are also numerous footpaths crossing the fields. Applicants Bluestone Court Farm Ltd has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment screening request to the Welsh Government's planning body, Planning and Environment Decisions Wales, or PEDW. It will have to decide whether the detailed assessment is required but the applicants state they do not believe it is necessary due to the limited impact of the proposals, which they say can be managed through 'careful design and masterplanning', and that panels would be in place for 40 years after which the land could be returned to 'greenfield/agriculture'. The applicants also state although the land use permission would be changed some existing agricultural activities such as livestock grazing could continue over the period the farm is in use. The full planning application is, according to the applicants, likely to include technical reports including glint and glare, noise and landscape and visual impact assessments along with ecological, flooding and heritage reports. The Environmental Impact Assessment request states: 'We believe these supporting documents will provide the Welsh Ministers with all the necessary information concerning the effects of the proposed development, without the need for an EIA, so to enable them to make an informed decision concerning the proposals.' The application states there are three grade II listed buildings within one killometre of the site and four ancient monuments within the surrounding area while most of the site is within 'flood zone A the area considered to have the lowest probability of flooding'. A small part of the site, next to the Candwr Brook, is within flood zone B, which are areas known to have flooded, and zone C, an area without significant flood defence infrastructure. READ MORE: Solar farm could power 5,500 homes say developers The solar panels will be mounted on simple metal frames, or tables, pile-driven into the ground, eliminating the need for substantial foundations, and could operate with a fixed tilt to the south or on single axis tracking tables. The height of the tables above ground can range from a maximum of four meters to a minimum of 0.5 meters when using fixed structures with two vertical panels and a table tilt angle of 30 degrees. Frames will be spaced at a minimum distance of seven meters from each other. A decision on whether an environmental impact assessment is required is expected to be made in no more than 90 days from when the request was submitted on April 7.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK's longest ski slope 'once in lifetime' opportunity
Plans to build the UK's longest ski slope in Merthyr Tydfil have been described as a "once in a lifetime" opportunity by councillors. The £300m Rhydycar West development would feature an indoor snow centre as well as a tropical waterpark and activity centre. The planning application from Marvel Ltd was recommended for refusal by Merthyr council officers due to concerns over its planned location, sustainability, scale, impact on the view and ecology. But at a planning committee on Wednesday, councillors voted against the recommendation and backed the project which could create an estimated 842 jobs and inject an additional £38m into the local economy each year. More Welsh attractions 'at risk' as Oakwood shuts 'I was prescribed surfing to help my depression' Man skis down Welsh hill that rarely sees snow The plans, first mooted in 2017, will now go before planning inspectorate Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) who will consider whether to call it in. The attraction, which covers land to the south west of the A470/A4102 roundabout, would also include as many as 418 hotel rooms and up to 30 lodges. During Wednesday's meeting, councillor Clive Jones said it was by far the largest application that had come before the committee for decades, adding he had received more representations of support for this than any other application in 21 years. The council received more than 420 letters in support of the application and a petition in its favour has been signed by more than 2,800 people. Jones said the long-term economic benefit would be "unbelievable". He added: "Merthyr Tydfil needs massive investment and we have a duty to move this application for current and future generations." Councillor Declan Sammon said it was a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to bring something to Merthyr Tydfil that would "benefit our children and grandchildren". He said if the application was approved, the council would have done its part and it would be down to the Welsh government and the developers to deliver for the people of Merthyr Tydfil. Councillor Gareth Lewis said the council must show its "ambitions match the opportunities", while councillor Lee Davies said the development would establish Merthyr Tydfil as a major leisure and tourism destination. There have been 25 objections to the plans as well as officers' recommendation for refusal based on the negative impact on sites of special scientific interest and a site of importance for nature conservation. Concerns have also been voiced about the loss of a portion of ancient woodland protected by a tree preservation order. In their conclusion, officers said: "On balance the potential economic and social benefits including employment creation, significant private investment, and enhanced leisure facilities would not outweigh the harm identified to the important ecological and landscape value of the site." Meanwhile, residents have expressed concern over potential damage to the canal, increased traffic, air pollution and the visual impact on the Merthyr Tydfil landscape of outstanding historic interest. In March 2024 the council was told by the Welsh government it could refuse the application but a decision to grant planning permission would likely be ultimately taken by ministers. Is Merthyr set to become the St Moritz of Wales? 'UK's longest ski slope' plans unveiled Planning and Environment Decisions Wales
