Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

News

Towering turbines must go

Published

on

Height issue: Wind turbines are taller than the agreed planning permission • Pic: M Hillen

Height issue: Wind turbines are taller than the agreed planning permission • Pic: M Hillen

A RETROSPECTIVE planning application for two wind turbines, which were built higher than they should have been, has been turned down.

Permission was granted in April 2012 for two turbines measuring at 23 metres to hub and 34.9 metres to blade tip.

However, the turbines, located in Lammas Farm near Wolfscastle, Haverfordwest, have been built at 29 metres to hub and 39.7 metres to blade tip.

The application for the turbines came before the Planning and Rights of Way Committee on Tuesday, January 19 with a recommendation of approval.

Some councillors felt that the increase in size would not be a problem and one councillor said they were hamstrung by the fact that permission was already in place.

There were also concerns that the turbines were located just 120 metres from a bridleway when the British Horse Society recommends a safe distance of 200 metres.

Wolfscastle Community Council also objected to the application as they felt the turbines should have been built to the height that was originally granted.

Cllr Brian Hall moved the recommendation for approval saying: “It’s already got consent and what would concern me is that if we refuse this today this will go to appeal and the inspector will approve it on the basis it’s been approved before.”

The recommendation was then seconded by Cllr Ken Rowlands.

Cllr Jacob Williams asked how the council had become aware that the turbines had been built taller than they should have been.

The council’s case officer replied: “Consent was granted in April 2012 and there was some email correspondence from January 2013 where it had come to light that the turbines erected on the site appeared to be bigger than when they were approved. The delay has been caused by a lot of correspondence and they told us that they had erected the turbines in error.”

It was also suggested that, if approved, the application should be delegated to the Head of Planning to await a response from the Civil Aviation Authority who were listed as a consultee in the report.

Cllr Keith Lewis said: “I feel quite uncomfortable as there is some resemblance to the application we have just dealt with a house that was higher than the permission granted.

“If a turbine is bigger, the potential impact is always going to be greater and these turbines are five metres higher than what was granted so that does cause me some concern.

“I do think that simply because it was passed then that it necessarily follows that a higher turbine shouldn’t fall awry of that.”

Cllr Rod Bowen added: “The British Horse Society recommends a safe distance of 200m and the fact that nothing has happened is not good enough. It is important for us to take into consideration that the bridleway should be moved 80m to accommodate this particular problem.”

Cllr Tony Brinsden said: “I am totally opposed to this. I have a feeling that this is an attempt to pull the wool over our eyes.

“Built in error! I can’t believe that for one second. It’s not like putting up a Wendy house, this is a massive turbine erection and to say it is built in error is a load of codswallop.”

Cllr Gwilym Price said he was also concerned and added that nobody would make the mistake of a few metres.

Cllr Myles Pepper said: “I don’t agree with the impact being moderate, to me this is a high impact but I think we are hamstrung by the fact that permission is in place.”

Cllr Peter Stock said he also felt uneasy and added that developers should abide by the application they put in.

After a lengthy debate, the recommendation for approval was lost by six votes to seven.

A motion for refusal, on the basis of visual impact, was then put forward by Cllr Peter Morgan and that was supported by seven votes to six.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

Published

on

PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.

In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.

The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.

Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.

Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.  

Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”

“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”

“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”

“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”

Continue Reading

Business

Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

Published

on

TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

Continue Reading

News

Welsh Water has increased sewage discharges into waterways ‘by 40%’

Published

on

NEW figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Dwr Cymru discharged sewage into waterways for a staggering 23,354 hours last year, a 40% increase on 2022. 

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are now calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in Welsh waterways.

The party has also called for a halt on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.

Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis.

The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into our nation’s rivers and waterways without consequence.

“It’s beggars’ belief that both the UK Conservative Government and the Welsh Labour government are allowing water firms to get away with this environmental vandalism.

“We as a party are calling for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local waterways. We have also called for a halt on bonuses for water company fat cats whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways.”

Continue Reading

Business5 hours ago

Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that...

News17 hours ago

Police ask motorists to avoid A44 trunk road due to heavy snowfall

DYFED-POWYS POLICE have issued an appeal to motorists to avoid a 25 mile section of the A44 trunk road between...

Crime1 day ago

Woman will quit the booze after seeing shocking drunken video in court

A HAVERFORDWEST woman this week vowed to undertake ‘a complete alcohol abstinence’ after being shown court video footage of her...

News2 days ago

Family heartbroken by loss of ‘larger than life character’ in M4 crash

THE FAMILY of the man who died in a collision on the M4 motorway say ‘he will be greatly missed...

Business2 days ago

Victory for WASPI women but the fight goes on

A LANDMARK ruling by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman could benefit around 5,000 women in Ceredigion born in the...

Entertainment4 days ago

A night to remember: Symphonica Tywi’s ‘Film Fantastics’ was a triumph

ON SATURDAY (Mar 23), Haverfordwest High School was ablaze with the soaring melodies and dramatic scores of some of cinema’s...

News4 days ago

Memorial for all those affected by Covid-19 unveiled at County Hall

A LASTING tribute for Pembrokeshire loved ones lost during the Covid-19 pandemic and those working on the frontline has been...

Top News5 days ago

Princess of Wales announces cancer diagnosis and treatment

CATHERINE, the Princess of Wales, has shared her recent health struggles with the public, revealing a diagnosis that has sent...

Charity6 days ago

RNLI lifeguards back on patrol in Pembrokeshire for the Easter Holidays

RNLI lifeguards will be on patrol once again in Pembrokeshire ahead of the Easter holidays. This Saturday, 23 March 2024,...

Community7 days ago

Neglected Pembrokeshire poodles find their forever homes 

THIRTY poodle type dogs were in total rescued after they were found in an unsuitable environment where their owner also...

Popular This Week