On 27th June, Powys Planning Committee deferred a decision on Bute Energy’s application for an 122.5 metre Met Mast because National Resources Wales had not been consulted.

Now, NRW has submitted its report, which means that the application will be reconsidered in the near future.

Although NRW has not objected to the application in principle, they have expressed concerns about the mast site being only one kilometre from the Pumlumon Site of Special Scientific Interest, which is one of the most important in Wales. 

They also point out the possible impacts on rare birds, bats, mammals and the surrounding ecology, as well as the visual effect of a 122.5m tall mast. 

OTHER NEWS:

NRW stated that, if the mast is erected, bird deflectors would have to be installed on all the outer guy wires and checked monthly. 

There would be a total of fifty-seven steel support cables. 

However, studies show that bird deflectors can never completely eliminate bird collisions, injuries and deaths. 

Close to the site, at the edge of Llyn Clywedog, there are two osprey nests where at least three chicks have been reared this summer. 

Bute Energy’s own bird observation maps included in their scoping report show ospreys flying in the area of the proposed mast. 

When the birds migrate, young inexperienced Ospreys would be at risk from the mast and all its cables. 

Further, the bird deflectors would only be on outer guy wires, which would spread 80 metres from the mast.

An outstanding problem with any conditions imposed by the Powys Planners is their enforcement. 

Who is going to check that the conditions are implemented and how rigorous will that checking be? 

We note that in the notorious case of Hendy Wind Farm near Llandegley, Powys Planning imposed stringent conditions on the development, which were never enforced. 

The result has been a ruined landscape and the erection of turbines that still produce no electricity after five years. 

However, this sends a message to developers that they can ignore conditions imposed by Powys CC because the Council evidently does not have the will, funds or staff to enforce them. 

The mast application states that it would be temporary and removed after three years, but again, how would its demolition and removal be enforced?

Note that at 400ft (122.5m), the mast would be much taller than Carno wind farm turbines and as tall as those at Tir Gwynt Wind Farm, and would dominate views from the nearby communities of Staylittle and Llwynygog. 

It would have a negative visual impact on parts of Llyn Clywedog and the uplands near Dylife and the Hafren Forest. 

The ‘temporary’ nature of the mast would not mitigate its impact on residents and tourists for 3 years, nor diminish the risk for protected species in the area.

A mast of this height would need aviation lighting. The MOD advises Infrared LED lights but private aircraft are not routinely fitted with infrared equipment and at night or in low light conditions, they would be at risk of collision.

However, visible lights at the top of the mast would negatively affect the rare Dark Sky status of the area.

Is the mast necessary at all? There are viable, accurate alternatives for measuring wind and weather these days, such as LIDAR* and SODAR, which are far more space efficient and have hardly any ecological or visual impact. 

These units are so self-effacing that they do not require planning permission! Any developer that had a real interest and concern for the natural environment and health of the Welsh Uplands would certainly consider using these alternatives.

* Cllr Gary Mitchell writes: “Ground mounted LIDAR technology can detect wind speed, direction etc. from a box just a cubed meter in size. This application is highlighting old technology and outdated approaches.

If Bute Energy were to contest the availability of reliable data for the area I would point them in the direction of the Dolydd Weather Station, just a few
kilometres away, which has been in existence for 50 years. 

Run by the UK’s Center for Ecology and Hydrology, this reports ‘all weather data’ 24 hrs a day, every day and even collects data from sites as elevated and remote as Carreg Wen, which is situated just 1 km away and is 100 metres higher than the mast site.”
Sally George  &  Pixi Saergel 
Via email