Council's resounding 'No' to Power plans

More than 1,500 members of the public descended on a Powys County Council meeting at Welshpool Livestock Market this afternoon to hear councillors call for an immediate review of wind farm policy in the county.

In what is believed to be one of the biggest protests seen in the area for decades, county councillors were left in no doubt about the anger felt in the area by all walks of life about the plans put forward by National Grid and Scottish Power, as well as the Welsh Government's Tan8 development policy that positions most windfarms in Wales within the Mid Wales area.

In the end, councillors unanimously backed the motion calling for a moratorium on all windfarm applications and a review of Tan8. Fifteen councillors were absent and one abstained but the motion gained cross-party support.

It means the authority will now officially ask for a review.

In what was seen as one of the most 'public' council meetings ever staged in the county - large screens flanked the Welshpool Livestock Market so all the protestors could see and hear proceedings - councillors could not hide between idle comments.

MP Glyn Davies was delighted with the support from Powys and said the campaign is gathering more momentum by the day.

Today's meeting asked councillors to vote on the motion for a moratorium on windfarm applications and the review of Tan8 which sets out where windframs should be sited in Wales. It follows plans to build pylons, power lines and a 20 acre sub power station in either Cefn Coch, near Llanfair Caereinion, or Abermule, near Newtown. Protestors have already demonstrated outside the National Assembly in Cardiff, and the First Minister has been put under pressure to take the planning issue up with the UK government which has control over all energy planning matters in Wales.