A decision on plans for a weather mast at a site near Brecon has been postponed by Powys councillors.

This is so that the newly elected councillor is able to get views from the residents he represents on the proposal.

At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Planning Committee on Wednesday, July 8, councillors received a report on plans by Garreg Fawr Energy Park Limited for a meteorological mast and ancillary structure for a five-year period on land south of Ffynnon Ffrydyll at Merthyr Cynog.

This site is between Sennybridge and Brecon.

Garreg Fawr Energy Park Limited is a subsidiary of Bute Energy, and it wants to eventually build 22 wind turbines with a maximum height of 220 metres at the site.

Senior planning officer Catherine James recommended that councillors approve the scheme and stressed that objections had been about the potential wind farm rather than the specific weather mast proposal.

Cllr Colin Millichap (Liberal Democrat), who was only elected to represent the Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew ward last week, said: “I have recently been elected to the ward where the mast is proposed to be constructed.

“My request is that the decision is deferred for one month.

“I was only elected last Friday and have had little time to gain the opinion of the residents of the ward.”

He pointed out that the ward had been unrepresented since the Senedd election results on May 8, when the previous councillor, Iain McIntosh, was elected to the Senedd.

A team of residents, which included an academic and retired planning expert, then put forward a whole host of reasons against the mast.

They pointed out that the link between the weather mast and the potential wind turbine development had been mentioned by the applicant in planning documents.

Professor Carla Edgley asked councillors to consider whether the evidence in front of them was “reliable and complete enough” to base a decision on.

Prof Edgley said: “The application is about a mast, not a wind farm, and no one is under that illusion.”

She questioned the “rigour” of the application’s evidence base and said there were “serious gaps” in the information.

Prof Edgley added that Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority’s (BBNPA) objection remained “unresolved”.

Planning agent for the applicant, Jack Pugsley, stressed that statutory consultees had not objected to the proposal.

Cllr Gareth E Jones (Powys Independents – Llanelwedd) asked planning officers for their view on the detailed objections dossier submitted by residents.

Ms James said: “The submission was long and detailed but mostly covered matters which statutory consultees cover.

“We are satisfied that all matters have been sufficiently assessed and commented on.”

Cllr Deb Edwards (Powys Independents – Llangunllo and Norton) wanted to defer the application to allow Cllr Millichap time to speak to his residents.

This move was seconded by Cllr Gareth Pugh (Conservative – Dolforwyn).

Committee chairman Cllr Gareth D Jones (Powys Independent – Llanfair Caereinion and Llanerfyl) was reluctant to allow this to happen and brought in development team manager Gemma James to explain the process.

Mrs James said that the public speakers would not have another opportunity to speak on the application at a future meeting.

Cllr Gareth E Jones asked whether Cllr Millichap would be allowed to speak to the committee as a local councillor.

Cllr Gareth D Jones said: “In this situation the newly elected member would write a statement and that would be read out to the committee.

“He would not be allowed to address the committee in person.”

Cllr Pugh continued to support deferring the proposal and said: “We’ve heard some very educated objections by some very professional people who’ve done a lot of homework. I think it would only be fair, right and proper to go for a deferral.”

Cllr David Selby (Liberal Democrat – Newtown Central and South) warned that only those present today would be eligible to vote on the application if it was deferred.

Cllr Selby said: “So the only new information we would gather is a statement from the new councillor. I’m not sure it would achieve very much.”

Eventually, the committee held a vote on Cllr Edwards' proposal to defer the application.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

This saw five councillors vote to support deferring the application, two councillors vote against, and one councillor abstain.