PLANS to build a big barn near the site of an ancient castle overlooking the River Severn have been given the thumbs up by councillors.
Dolforwyn county councillor which includes Abermule, Conservative Gareth Pugh lodged an application with the authority earlier this year for an agricultural building and crushed stone track at Bryn Derwen Motte.
The motte is described as a set of earthworks that is interpreted by archaeologists as the “mutilated” remains of a motte and bailey castle.
It is situated to the left of Bryn Derwen bridge on the way into Abermule.
The application was in front of the council’s planning committee for a decision at a meeting on Thursday, October 31, because it was brought by a county councillor and committee member, and Cllr Pugh declared an interest in the item and left the meeting.
The proposed building would be 18.4 metres long, 7.4 metres high and 9.1 metres wide, and would provide shelter for livestock and storage for machinery and fodder.
Concerns had been raised about road safety and “overdevelopment” of the site, but the highways authority raised no objections.
Planning officer Hannah Miller added: “The stone track has previously attained scheduled monument consent from Cadw prior to the application being submitted.”
The Welsh Government’s historic and environment service Cadw also consulted on it.
Ms Miller said: “Cadw said that the impact could be reduced to an acceptable level if the colour of the building was changed to green to match the existing tree line on the site.
“This has been included as one of the conditions.”
She explained that another condition to be attached to the planning permission is that an archaeologist needs to be present during groundworks at the site.
This is in case anything of historic interest is found there.
Ms Miller went on to advise councillors to approve the proposal.
Cllr Karl Lewis said: “With Cadw in mind, they are happy with the mitigating measures being put forward.
“Highways, NRW (Natural Resources Wales) and all the other consultees seem to be happy, the community council is satisfied as well.
“This is only in front of us because the applicant is a county councillor.”
Cllr Lewis said he would be “happy” to move the application on to a vote.
This was seconded by Cllr Gareth E Jones.
A vote was taken, and the application was unanimously supported by the committee.
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