In December 2018, Powys County Council stopped publishing comments from “third-parties” on their planning website, with a review due in December 2019.
“Third-parties” are local people and other Powys residents and environmental or other stakeholder organisations. They often have important evidence for or against planning applications which should be taken into account. Third-party comments show us the extent and reasons for public concern.
Their comments should be available on the internet for EVERYONE, including Planning Committee Members, to see. Other councils manage to show third-party comments.
Why can’t Powys County Council?
The poor alternatives of having to drive or take public transport to view files in Llandrindod Wells, or asking for third-party comments by email, penalise the public and are simply not working.
Welsh Government’s draft National Development Framework is out for public consultation: closing date 15th November.
It has been immensely time-consuming and difficult to first track down and then trawl through the myriad of documents in various locations on the Welsh Government website. Please see new website page, ‘Responding to the Welsh Government NDF consultation: Some Key Points’, summarising what we believe to be key problems with the draft NDF proposals, and intended to provide a useful and time-saving resource to aid response to this important consultation. More detailed considerations are available as a pdf download on the same page. This new page supplements existing pages which contain a summary of the role of the NDF and general concerns with the proposals, and detailed maps of renewable energy ‘Priority Areas’.
Action Alert: September 2019 – Save our Welsh Countryside!
The Welsh Government’s draft National Development Framework (NDF) contains expanded renewable energy plans to industrialise vast new areas of our countryside
The draft NDF is going through a consultation process. PLEASE MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD BY NOVEMBER 15th: This will be your only opportunity.
[Some guidelines which may help you on making your response can be found here.]
The proposals set new Priority Areas sweeping across large parts of Wales – to be allocated for further wind farms and solar arrays as shown on the map below. Within them, landscape change will be accepted and there will be a presumption of planning approval. All projects over 10 megawatts will be decided by the Welsh Government, and other rural assets – including biodiversity – will be compromised.
CPRW accepts the need for renewable energy in the right place and supports economic development in rural areas, but this does not justify widespread industrialisation and irrational destruction of our landscapes. Visitor surveys show that people come to enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of our unspoilt landscapes. Tourism is growing rapidly and helps sustain rural economies and farm livelihoods.
Please look at how the plans affect your area and make your views known by responding to the consultation, and do please write to the Press, your Councillors, your AM and your MP. Thank you.
This month’s newsletter has a report from the AGM, updates on Hendy Windfarm and the Welsh Government’s National Development Framework, and a Date For Your Diaries. There is also an opportunity for you to have your say about the Welsh Planning System.
AGM
Our AGM was held on 27th July at the Tabernacle on Dolley Green. It was unusually well attended, and followed by an extremely enjoyable guided tour of Upper Dolley Farmhouse (recipient of our 2018 Louis Hurley Award) with tea and sandwiches graciously provided and hosted by John and Diana Trew. This remarkable ancient farmhouse was painstakingly restored, with ancient mullions and carved timber revealed when corrugated iron was removed.
This was followed on the 28th by an inspiring talk from Tom Davies at the Offa’s Dyke Centre in Knighton. There was standing room only as he extolled the glories of our countryside and the kindness of its people that he came across in the course of an 1100 mile walk around our borders. This was followed by a short walk on the Offa’s Dyke.
(Further info on the Upper Dolley visit and Tom Davies’ talk here.)
This was the text of the chairman’s report at the AGM which will serve as an update for all our members:
“Another busy year for us. The proliferation of intensive livestock units continues to be front and central to our concerns over water and air quality. Last year’s petition to the Welsh Assembly Petitions Committee has appeared to get some traction at the Welsh Assembly and we have secured a place on the Town and Country Planning Intensive Agriculture Working Group which meets this autumn, but we are not seeing any improvement on the ground so far in Powys, where applications continue to be waved through with almost no exception. Our efforts may have contributed to announcements by Cargill-Avara that it will be concentrating growth elsewhere in future, but actions speak louder than words. We have been working with Shropshire and Herefordshire CPRE branches to extend our intensive poultry farm mapping over the border. Chris Bruce has worked steadfastly on these new interactive poultry farm maps (displayed at the Royal Welsh this week) and keep updated versions, along with everything else on our website, for which we are eternally grateful.
On the hard fought Hendy development, the Inspector’s long awaited and very thorough report was finally published in late October recommending refusal. We were nonplussed to discover that the Welsh Minister Lesley Griffiths had nevertheless overruled both the Inspector’s and Powys Planning Committee decisions and decided that she would allow the development to proceed. Which it did with reckless haste, before any of the onerous and detailed conditions precedent, confirmed by the minister herself, had been discharged, and in the face of determined local opposition on the ground. It turned out this is because a turbine had to be erected before January 31st this year in order for the development to qualify for the very last tranche of subsidised prices.
So we again rang the tocsin and were delighted to be able to raise over £40,000 to initiate a judicial review of this infamous decision. I will not go in to the complex ups and downs of the legal battle. At present we are awaiting a crucial ruling from the Court of Appeal in London. We would not have got this far without the unhesitating support of CPRW Central, who launched a nationwide appeal to help us. Meanwhile Christine, Margaret and Sarah have fought tirelessly to hold PCC to account over the discharge of conditions, while BRAG, Nigel and Azra have done the same on the ground. Local communities are incensed.
Powys Council is not helping public participation in planning decisions with its decision to stop publishing any third party representations from stakeholder organisations or the general public. This is an issue we need your help to tackle in the coming year.
On a lighter note we held another very popular symposium, this time on the Soil beneath our Feet at Talgarth Town Hall at the beginning of November, chaired by John Scullion from IBERs in Aberystwyth. The academic excellence was complemented with reports from two farmers with hands on experience of the matter, underlining the importance we attach to engagement with the farming community who maintain our beloved landscape. This year’s symposium will be held on the 10th November in collaboration with the Woodland Trust.
Last year awards were made and a well-attended reception was held in the stunning glass-blowing studio at Hares Green. The Louis Hurley Prize was awarded to Upper Dolley (2018) and Hares Green Farm (2017), and our annual Rural Wales Award was made posthumously to Alan Loveridge for his pioneering work on intensive poultry farming in Powys and accepted by his widow Janice.
Sadly this is the last AGM where Ann Payne our steadfast membership secretary and treasurer will attend in that capacity and we offer her our heartfelt thanks. I am taking on the Treasurer role and Margaret is taking on Membership temporarily we are looking for a replacement. I am glad to report that our membership has increased by over 10 % in the year, but we must continue to try to engage younger generations in our struggle. CPRW central is appointing a part time communications officer to try to help achieve this. Thanks to all our supporters, our committee and our membership for keeping our valiant little team of volunteers fighting for the good of our countryside.”
UPDATES: 1. Hendy Wind Farm
The battle for Hendy continues apace as the developer attempts to pass off as ‘non-material’ alterations to the conditions implicit in the Minister’s consent. For example, they want to change the condition saying a turbine, which does not produce electricity for 6 months, must be removed, and change the condition requiring a traffic plan for turbine transport prior to construction. This is because Turbine 5 has not produced electricity for 6 months and they want to get on with construction for the other 6 turbines before producing any plans for access from the A44 and before satisfying the Welsh Government about transport safety. The developer has already breached essential planning conditions and, according to planning and environmental impact regulations, should now apply for planning permission for the changed access and layout plans but so far there is no evidence that Powys will require this.
2. Welsh Government National Development Framework (NDF) Consultation (closing date 1/11/19)
This consultation sets a 20-year vision for Wales. The NDF, combined with Planning Policy Wales 10, governs the Strategic Development Plan for Mid and West Wales (Powys, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire), which, in turn, governs our Local Powys Planning. During the examination of the Powys LDP, substantial Proposed Local Search Areas for wind energy were abandoned because AECOM finally admitted that, after they had applied their exclusion criteria, there were no suitable areas left. However the draft NDF now proposes different Priority Areas for renewable wind and solar energy. The NDF provides a crude map of these (below) and says there will be a presumption of approval of planning applications within Priority Areas but does not explain the criteria for selection.
This link will get you to the Welsh Government Documents.
As the consultation progresses, BRB-CPRW will be publishing more information and maps to help you see exactly where these areas are in relation to existing Strategic Search Areas and Powys Solar Local Search Areas. We have already prepared one which puts the Priority Areas more in context with the landscape resources of Wales. That is shown below the Welsh Government’s Priority Area map. Clicking on our map will enable you to download a PDF version enabling you to zoom in and perhaps find your town or village. (Alternatively you can right-click on a map and “Save Target As” or equivalent to download the PDF.)
Welsh Government National Development Framework Wind & Solar Priority Areas
NDF Priority and Strategic Search Areas with National Parks, AONBs and National Trails
SAVE THE DATE: November 10th 2019: Trees and Woodlands of Wales
This is a full day public Seminar in cooperation with the Woodland Trust at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells.
Our trees and woodland ecosystems are facing huge and multiple pressures. Our speakers will be looking at the character and importance of woods and trees in Wales, the threats to their extent and health and current Welsh policy. We are very pleased to have as keynote speaker George Peterken the recognised woodland ecologist and pioneer of the recognition and protection of Britain’s Ancient Woodlands.
This online survey, run by Cardiff University and Queen’s University Belfast, aims to compare stakeholder perceptions of planning in Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The researchers aim to publish a final report by the end of the year which will ‘directly inform the discussion, design and delivery of planning policy and the governance, resourcing and regulation of development’.
This is a valuable opportunity to set out any concerns you may have about the Welsh planning system, its operation and its direction.
The survey can be accessed on this link and will remain open until Monday 30 September 2019.
Intensive Poultry Units Across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Powys
Some of our neighbouring counties over the border in England are also concerned about the proliferation of Intensive Poultry Units (IPUs) in our landscape, with the impacts of ammonia, nitrogen deposition and phosphates on biodiversity and human health, and the consequent deterioration of rural living conditions and our rural landscapes.
In Spring 2019 four of the NGOs who have these concerns met in Shropshire to discuss the issue. These organisations were the Herefordshire and Shropshire branches of Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), Shropshire Wildlife Trust (SWT) and us, the Brecon & Radnor branch of Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW).
CPRW already have a database of IPUs in Powys and have published various maps on our website (here and here) illustrating the issue in our county. The two CPREs and SWT have also been developing a comprehensive record of IPUs in their own counties.
It was agreed at the meeting to form a combined CPRE/SWT/CPRW team to rationalise and consolidate the various IPU datasets across the counties, and to build on CPRW’s work by developing some combined maps from this data to illustrate the IPU issues across the three counties.
Therefore here is some further background to the project, and our first few combined cross-border IPU maps, with data to hand as at July 2019. We hope you “enjoy” them!
I am sure that members and supporters will be wondering what is going on with our legal challenge against Lesley Griffiths’ decision to allow wind farm construction to proceed against the recommendation of both our County Council and the Independent Inspector’s Report. We are still waiting for a decision from an Appeals Court Judge. We have been waiting since March, when our lawyers filed our Appeal against refusal of permission to proceed with the challenge. Of course we are keeping our fingers crossed and all hope we can take our challenge forward.
Meanwhile the developer is continuing to submit applications to discharge pre-commencement conditions in a fantastically haphazard and lackadaisical manner. Their claims to have ‘kept local communities closely involved’ are as hollow as their ‘respect for the environment’. These conditions should have been discharged before any work began but Powys Council found it “expedient” not to enforce against construction of Turbine 5.
Our dedicated volunteers have been taking Powys Council planning department to task on each of these conditions. See letter complaining about the changes to the development, lack of plans and piecemeal nature of what ought to be a watertight and well-thought-out Planning Application for such a massive project.
We would be most grateful if you can think of any charitable or representative body (e.g. Wildlife Trust or Community Council) that would write to Powys Planning Department to reinforce this plea for proper planning procedure.
The recent refusal of the M4 Newport Relief Road is a powerful reminder that we have to have the heart to play a long game.
With best wishes and thanks again to all for your support.
A special opportunity to experience the beauty and importance of Traditional Hay Meadows in our farming landscape led by Conservationist, Photographer and Farmer’s Wife SORCHA LEWIS.
Hay Meadows in the Elan Valley
Sorcha will give us some history of the Elan Valley, its management by the Welsh Water Elan Valley Trust and the variety of wildlife that it supports. Troedrhiwdrian Farm is in the High Nature Value Scheme.
The visit will be approximately two hours.
We meet Sorcha in Car Park No.7 Gwaelod y Rhos (see map on this link) at 2.00pm on SUNDAY 30th JUNE.
Members Only: Limited numbers, booking essential. To book – Tel: 01544 267418 or email lyndenreesroberts@gmail.com. (B&R CPRW Committee)
At Ackhill School Room, Dolley Green, LD8 2EE, nr Presteigne.
Ackhill Schoolroom
The School Room is known as ‘The Tin Tabernacle’ and dates from 1905.
By kind permission of Pastor Richard Mansell.
Parking adjacent to the School Room. www.ackhillbaptistchurch.org
The AGM is followed by a VISIT to UPPER DOLLEY FARMHOUSE with a TALK and TEA at 3.00pm courtesy of John and Diana Trew, recipient of the 2018 Louis Hurley Architectural Award for major restoration of an historic early Welsh Marches Farmstead Grade II*.
Upper Dolley House
Members only visit to Upper Dolley Farmhouse. (Non-members may attend the AGM but obviously cannot vote!)
Please book to reserve your place for this event by July 14th.
Tel: 01544 267418 or email lyndenreesroberts@gmail.com. (B&R CPRW Committee)
COME and BE INSPIRED by a TALK and TEA EVENT with local author TOM DAVIES on SUNDAY 28th JULY at 2.30pm at the Offa’s Dyke Centre, Knighton, LD7 1EN in celebration of the Offa’s Dyke Association’s 50th Anniversary.
Tom Davies
Tom will be talking about his 1,100 mile adventure from his home in Presteigne , heading north along the Offa’s Dyke National Trail and continuing along the entire length of the Welsh Coastal Path, arriving home some ten weeks later.
Non-members welcome.
Please book to reserve your place for TALK & TEA £5.00 Tel: 01544 267418 or email lyndenreesroberts@gmail.com (B&R CPRW Committee) or Offa’s Dyke Centre Tel:01547 528753 www.offasdyke.org.uk
After the Talk and Tea we join Tom for a late afternoon ramble along a well preserved part of the Dyke, with wonderful views into Wales and across into Shropshire. (weather permitting).
We shall leave the Centre at approx. 4.30pm for a 20 min. scenic drive up to the Car Parking Area adjacent to the Offa’s Dyke Trail. Map Ref OS:250 796.
Following Monday’s disappointing judgment by Sir Wyn Williams refusing us permission for judicial review, CPRW supporters will be very pleased to hear that, after consultation with our legal team Richard Buxton Solicitors and Cornerstone Barristers, and with their generous support, we have today decided to seek to appeal the decision.
Planning Policy Wales fully acknowledges the importance of wind-farms and sets out very clear criteria for their location. It states that only in EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES can they be located near ancient monuments. It was for this reason that Powys County Council rejected the Hendy Developers’ application by 11-1, and that the Inspector rejected the Developers’ appeal in May last year. It did not seem tenable to us that after twenty years of national and local debates about the location of wind farms in sensitive landscapes, the Welsh Government’s Lesley Griffiths could decide that exceptional circumstances existed to allow this wind farm – and without explaining why.
CPRW nationally and locally are NOT opposed to wind-farms in principle. They are a vital alternative energy source and as such a counter to climate change. Powys is already a huge net energy exporter. But they should not and cannot be located haphazardly all over sensitive landscapes, and we are resolved to fight to the last to prevent this happening.
The fact that the Developers immediately proceeded with unauthorised work, without fulfilling any of the conditions set out in the permission and with reckless haste, serves only to confirm their indifference to the environment and the local community. For the record, the development company is owned by U&I Ltd, London-based speculative property developers.
Thanks to the many local residents and community groups who have supported us, we will be able to continue the humble struggle for our wonderful landscape in the Courts. Even if we do not succeed, we consider we must make the effort to go to appeal.
With all best wishes,
Jonty Colchester
Chair, Brecon & Radnor CPRW
22 March 2019
We have been informed today by Cardiff Court that we have failed to get permission to proceed with the appeal against Lesley Griffiths’ decision. An appeal against this decision will cost us more money than we can afford, and looks unlikely to succeed.
I know this will be a huge disappointment to all our supporters and to the many of you who have contributed to the cause, to the many that worked hard on the case and turned out in all weathers on Llandegley Rhos.
There is some comfort to be drawn from the fact that we have shown that imperious decisions like this will not go unchallenged; that onshore wind farms located insensitively generate a lot of local opposition and a lot of bad press as well as a full on legal fight; that the regulator has been thoroughly apprised of the unauthorised nature of the works that were rushed through to gain accreditation, and the popular anger felt by taxpayers as a result.
So all has not been lost. In the light of the above, and with the ceasing of the on shore subsidy system, it seems much less likely that there will be a repeat of such a farce.
Thank you to all those who have supported us: we can only apologise that we could not prevail.
As you are well aware, the Hendy developers pushed ahead with the development without fulfilling any of the required conditions, almost as soon as permission was granted by the Minister, Lesley Griffiths.
We appealed that decision, and nearly all of you have helped us raise the money to finance that appeal. Grounds for appeal were lodged by mid December.
However it became clear that the developers were going to have installed the first turbine before the appeal was even heard. We were therefore diverted in to a fight to halt the works. Powys County Council ruled that the works were unauthorised on December 6th, but did nothing to enforce a halt. We were successful in obtaining an urgent injunction to halt the works in Cardiff Crown Court. But at the Birmingham hearing on 20th December, our injunction to stop the unauthorised work was lifted.
Despite a lot of press coverage and local protest, the first turbine was erected just in time for the development to attempt to qualify for an Ofgem Subsidised Tariff. With this tariff in place the development will be worth a lot of money. As you would expect, we have advised Ofgem of the unlawful nature of the development and questioned whether this is really what tax payers’ money is supposed to be for. We were glad to see the case made it in to Private Eye last week (issue 1490).
Meanwhile, the appeal process is grinding on. We have to get leave to appeal, and were asked to attend a Permission Hearing in Cardiff on the 25th February, to decide this. Although this is supposed to be an ‘ex parte’ hearing, it was contested by QCs representing both the developer and the Government. Sir Wynn Williams the presiding Judge unexpectedly ruled that he was ‘reserving judgement’ so at this stage, some two week after the hearing we are in limbo as to whether the appeal will proceed or no.
Thanks to all who have contributed towards this legal fight, and to all those locals who have made their voices heard on the embattled Common, in order to prevent a precedent being set that threatens anywhere in Wales with a ministerial diktat.
With all best wishes
Jonty Colchester
Chair CPRW Brecon and Radnor Branch
9 March 2019
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