By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter
A councillor has had his plans to build a barn rejected unanimously by the planning committee.
Berriew Independent Councillor, Dai Davies, had submitted an application for an agricultural building at his farm, Maes y Nant.
The building, said to be used for fodder and machinery, was to be 470 metres south east of the farmstead.
But Cllr Elwyn Vaughan said: “I have issues with this application, this is 470 metres away from the present buildings.”
Cllr Vaughan pointed out that under planning policy, the barn should have been placed “immediately adjacent” to the farm building complex.
He added: “May I suggest this is hardly within the existing farm complex. It is making a mockery of the planning committee and the process.
“We will be the laughing stock of the county if this is allowed. We all know where this is going to end up, there will be an application to turn it into a house.
“It’s happened before and we should stop it happening again. There’s no logical reason why this can’t be put with the rest of the building.”
Cllr Vaughan put forward an amendment to refuse the application.
Cllr Gwilym Williams added: “You build within the curtilage of existing buildings. We have always insisted that it be built within the existing curtilage, I have had to do it in previous applications.
“I feel it’s unfair for the people who have had to do it in the past, I can’t support it.”
Cllr Williams added that he would second the amendment.
Cllr Hywel Lewis said: “I have to question the motives behind this application. From a farmer’s point of view, you want your buildings in the complex not stick it in a field a long way away. This stinks.”
Planning development manager, Peter Morris, explained that the application was not grouped with the other farmstead buildings because of “narrow lanes”.
And transporting machinery and fodder is difficult, but this site was on a wider road.
He said that it would “improve the safety of the users of the road network”.
Cllr Lewis added most farms in Powys were up narrow small roads and that this was “not a valid excuse”.
Cllr Heulwen Hulme said: “I know that lane, large static caravans are transported up that lane. So it’s not that narrow.”
In May, Cllr Davies was given permission to remove an occupancy restriction on a house at his farm. The house was built as an agricultural dwelling after being given permission in 2005.
The restriction meant that the occupier should “solely or mainly be employed in agriculture or forestry”.
The house had been for sale at £235,000 when the application to remove the restriction had been made.
A district valuer report said that the house could be for sale for £345,000 if it was on the open market.