Proposed erection and operation of 4 wind turbines and associated access tracks, hardstanding and sub-station building.

Approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation subject to conditions 13 and 20 being amended as outlined in the update sheet. The final detailed wording of the conditions to be delegated to officers.

The Chairman advised members that the case officer had produced a detailed list of updates which should be noted prior to the application being discussed. Members were therefore given suitable time to read the update sheet. In response to a question, the Development Manager advised that the updates could not be circulated 5 days before the meeting as the Council’s constitution required any information received before 12 noon the day before the meeting to be reported to the Committee. The update sheet is attached as an appendix to these minutes.

The Development Manager gave a detailed presentation on the report. He advised Members of a number of details, including:

·         The application had been submitted in 2008.

·         In 2009 the Planning Committee had effectively granted planning permission subject to conditions.

·         The Planning Committee had visited the site as well as visiting a working wind farm.

·         The site was located in north-west Herefordshire and that the nearest settlements were Norton, Knighton and Presteigne.

·         Some parts of the access would require planning permission from Powys County Council.

·         The proposed turbines were 105m in height to the top of the blade tip, and 70m to the top of the hub.

·         The secretary of state had not called in the 2009 decision however it had been bought back to Committee as some further clarification had been required following regulation 19 requests by the Council regarding wind shear and other noise data, the landscape enhancement fund, the methodology used in the visual impact assessment and hydrology/hydrogeology matters.

·         Once the information had been received in 2010 it was decided that a further consultation exercise should be undertaken.

·         There had been minor changes to national policies but there had been no changes to the Council’s Unitary Development Plan in respect of wind turbines.

·         Further advice needed to be given in respect of Shobdon Airfield.

In summing up the Development Manager advised the Committee that there were four recommendations in the report and that these had been subject to a minor amendment as detailed in the updates sheet. He also requested that if the Committee were minded to approve the application it would be beneficial to delegate the final wording of the conditions to Officers as some of the conditions may require minor amendments.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Mr Andrews, representing Knighton Town Council, and Mrs Bywater and Dr Hugh-Jones, representing the Stonewall Hill Conservation Group, spoke in objection to the application and Sir Gourlay and Mr Corker, on behalf of the applicants, spoke in support.

In accordance with paragraph 4.8.2.2 of the Council’s Constitution, Councillor LO Barnett, the local ward member, commented on a number of issues, including:

·         The application was controversial and had divided the community.

·         There had been 38 letters of objection since the re-consultation.

·         As local ward member she had a duty to represent the people who had made representations; those who had written in previously; and the local residents who had not written in.

·         Mrs Bywater, who was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62