Protesters picketed outside County Hall in Llandrindod Wells today to speak out against the controversial new wind farm site in Radnorshire.

Around 40 people from groups across Powys gathered at 9am to voice their anger over the Hendy Windfarm site near Llandegley and other large developments in rural areas as Powys councillors arrived for Thursday's county council meeting.

Protestor Azra Dale said: “We’re here to raise awareness of how we are more than disappointed in how Powys has enabled what we perceive to be an unlawful development."

The installation of the first of the 110 metre-tall wind turbines – Turbine Five – was finished yesterday at the site, based near Llandegley Common, with another six planned for the site during phase two of the plan.

The objectors believe that developers Njord Energy had to install at least one by Thursday next week (January 31) in order to secure a subsidy payment.

Ms Dale said: “We’re doing this today, but they actually got turbine five up yesterday - they put the blades on yesterday so it’s now finished. That area has already been destroyed."Protesters say much of the work has been carried out before all the planning pre-conditions have been met. Powys council has said it believes work has been carried out without all the necessary permissions but said it has been unable to stop work as it is in line with the plans submitted.

Ms Dale said: “We suspect they’re going to be granted retrospective planning permission, it is just a complete farce.

“It’s basically that none of the rules which apply to you and I apply to them – it’s gone against all the planning regulations and rules. We’re just disgusted.”

The protesters had banded together from the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales, Brecon and Radnor Action Group (BRAG), Conservation of Upland Powys, SOS Radnorshire and Montgomery Against Pylons (MAP).

A group from Abermule were also at the protest as they oppose a giant recycling facility planned in their village.

The protesters, who allege they have not been consulted about additional developments at Hendy, claimed the entrance to the site has been installed illegally and that developers Njord Energy had stripped out the hedgerow and widened the A44 to fit their machinery.

Objector Jane Stevens, who lives opposite the site, said: “The local graziers have not been consulted whatsoever, we use the common to graze animals like cattle and horses.

“Gates have been left open at the site, the horses have been spooked. There was one day the common was open while there were cows grazing in there so they could get out on the road. There is no regard for the animals.

“The new road was built with no planning or consultation whatsoever.

“On the Thursday evening they cut the hedges and the trees down, on the Friday they had completed the road.”

Despite the wind farm plans being rejected by Powys councillors, the project was given the go-ahead after the energy, planning and rural affairs secretary for the Welsh Government Lesley Griffiths overturned the decision in October.

Work started at the site in November as Njord Energy seemed to rush to build the first turbine.

The objectors have therefore said they feel the interference from the Welsh Government has distorted the democratic system in place.

Jenny Keal, of BRAG, said: “Really we’re protesting about local democracy.

“Our big problem is that Powys County Council planning are not enforcing the planning rules. They’ve ignored the fact they have to sign off the conditions before the development even starts.

“None of the planning conditions have been discharged yet but one of the turbines has actually gone up now, they finished putting it up yesterday. It’s not even been before a planning committee yet.

“The protest is to make it clear to PCC that the people of Powys are angry about the shutting down of all avenues to protect rural communities from large infrastructure developments that do not benefit local communities or the county as a whole.”

Angry confrontations have also taken place at the Hendy Wind Farm where protesters have criticised PCC for not enforcing planning law and stopping the development.