21/11/12 Planning committee decision

Great news! Camarthen Council planning committee decided yesterday afternoon to turn down the application to build a 21 turbine right on the top of Mynydd Llanllwni. The vote was 10 to 4 against, agreeing with the council officers that the application was against a number of policies outlined in the Local Development plan. And this fact outweighed any possible benefit to the public of producing wind based energy. It was also pointed out that there was plenty of space in another part of the Strategic Search area (laid down by the Welsh Government's TAN8) for such a wind farm that wouldn't be so intrusive and with a lesser impact on the local community. About a dozen people from the local area spoke out against the application, including yours truly as shown in my last blog, and 3 people spoke out for the developer, including the farmer who owns Bryn Llywelyn. From the councilors there were 2 who spoke against the proposal and 3 who asked some questions. There was no real debate and very quickly the event was over.
There were huge cheers from the visitors in the balcony where there were a large number of our supporters and there were scenes of jubilation that 2 years hard work had paid off. The process had good coverage from the local media, including TV and press who expressed surprised that there was almost no local support for this attack on our way and quality of life. Now we have to wait and see if RES go to an appeal with the Welsh Government and RES have 6 months to decide. If that happens, they will be taking on the local authority but the latter will have our full support and I say "BRING IT ON!!!