"Severe" concerns have been raised by about an application for a new wind farm near Newtown which they say could trigger a National Grid review into controversial plans for an electricity hub at Cefn Coch.

Craig Williams MP and Russell George MS said they have issues about the Garn Fach wind farm application, "especially given the fact that there is currently no National Grid infrastructure capable of collecting and distributing power generated".

Both Welsh Conservative politicians for Montgomeryshire said they oppose any large pylon infrastructure in mid Wales.

Following the meeting with EDF Renewables, Craig Williams MP said: “I am seeking an urgent meeting with UK Ministers to gain clarification over Government policy regarding this application, given that there is no current grid capacity so would trigger National Grid intervention.

“These proposals would bring years of stress and disruption to our communities, blighting our wondrous landscapes with large pylons being driven through localities caused by a proliferation of wind farm projects in mid Wales. Montgomeryshire’s residents would be faced with either a large-scale 400kV pylon route, or a spider's web of smaller wooden pole lines criss-crossing our hills and valleys."

Almost a decade ago, campaigners protested against plans for a controversial electricity substation in Cefn Coch near Llanfair Caereinion which could have connected more than 100 pylons in a corridor along the Vyrnwy Valley into England.

Following the discussion, Russell George MS said: “I can’t support any windfarm proposal without having knowledge of how generated energy is going to be connected to the National Grid. The people of mid Wales have already expressed their views on large pylon infrastructure. Bringing back any such proposals will be firmly rejected again. We know that such infrastructure would be bad for the local tourism industry. Needless destruction of our fantastic natural landscapes will not be accepted."

Garn Fach, an EDF Renewables partnership with 14 local farming families, is a 85 MW wind farm that would be capable of generating enough electricity for 69,000 homes.

A 10-week pre-application consultation to develop the wind farm project near Llandinam and Dolfor, which has a 30-year lifetime, opened today (June 30) and will run until September 8.

EDF Renewables’ Principal Project Development Manager for Wales, Simon Morgan said: “Garn Fach will make a positive contribution to Wales’s green recovery, helping to meet the Welsh Government’s targets to generate 70 per cent of its electricity consumption from renewables by 2030 and be carbon net zero by 2050.

“We are proud to be working in partnership with fourteen local farming families and that the Garn Fach project is offering significant benefits to the community. Our goal is that the wind farm will be seen as part of the community and a symbol of our collective fight to tackle climate change, helping to accelerate to a net zero future where clean energy powers our lives.”