NO action has been taken over work at a controversial wind farm site in Radnorshire - even though it may have been carried out without the required permission.
Powys council has said it has seen evidence to suggest work at the Hendy Windfarm site has taken place before all the necessary permissions are in place.
The development has been granted planning permission but developers Hendy Windfarm are supposed to meet a number of pre-conditions before work can get underway.
But even though the council says there is evidence work has started before the conditions have been met it cannot take action to prevent any further operations on site as it says the work that has been undertaken appears to be in line with the approved plans.
Opponents have been maintaining a vigil at the site, near Llandegley Common, since heavy machinery was brought to the site in late November in a bid to try and prevent workers and further machinery being brought on site.
The seven turbine windfarm was granted planning permission, against the advice of independent inspector, by Welsh energy secretary Lesley Griffiths in October. Powys council’s planning committee had rejected the application in April 2017.
Following growing public concern over work at the site Powys council leader Rosemarie Harris issued a statement to explain why the council isn’t, as protesters are calling for, taking action to prevent work at the site. The council is still investigating the alleged breach of planning permission.
She said: "Our development management team currently has a live investigation open into the Hendy wind farm development.
“A site visit was conducted by officers at the end of last week and during their visit, they found evidence that some of the works that have been undertaken technically amounted to a breach of planning conditions.
“However, the works being undertaken appear to be consistent with the permission granted by the minister and information that has been submitted by the developers, although that is still subject to review by the council and other statutory consultees.
“We are aware of concerns but a planning authority cannot take enforcement action unless it is expedient in planning terms to do so. Officers from the council and other agencies will continue to investigate and will take action if there are firm grounds on which to do so.
“The Welsh Government’s decision has caused residents considerable concern and added significant pressure to the council. We will be contacting them to request additional resources as a result.”
Hendy Windfarm has previously said a "number of untrue allegations" have been made around its activity at the site.