At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Planning committee on Thursday, August 6, an application from Nant Mithil Energy Park limited for the meteorological mast at land 3.5 kilometres south east of Llanfihangel Rhydithon came before councillors.

This is third weather mast that would be associated with the wider energy park scheme.

Nant Mithil Energy Park is the development vehicle for Bute Energy who want to build a wind farm with 30 turbines with a maximum height of 220 metres at the site, and this is the third weather mast application that is associated with the scheme.

This scheme which is being processed by Welsh Government planning inspectors at PEDW as a development of national significance is currently on pause until the end of September.

Senior planning officer Kate Bowen ecommended that councillors approve the scheme.

Cllr Huw Williams (Labour – Abercraf and Ystradgynlais ) said: “It is frustrating as we know the purpose of this mast, but we can’t comment that it’s to build wind turbines.

“What is the need, if there are already two meteorological masts within that area, wouldn’t they be gather the same information?”

Mrs Bowen answered: “The existing masts are connected to the wider Nant Mithil DNS scheme; the additional data is for turbine selection.

As the whole Nant Mithil site is “quite wide” she believed there would be weather “variables” there for data collection.

Cllr Jonathan Wilkinson (Conservative – Llangyniew and Meifod) said: “Like Cllr Williams I feel frustrated, there is an elephant in the room we’re not allowed to talk about, which is a bizarre situation.”

He then put forward a motion to refuse the scheme as it could be a danger for low flying military aircraft that could be flying as low as 76.2 metres which is below the mast height.

Cllr Wilkinson added that recent statements from the UK Government’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) on national security had stressed the severity of the military threat to the country.

Cllr Wilkinson: “We face as great a threat now since the Second World War and the availability of all our low flying training areas to allow the RAF to train is absolutely imperative.

“This structure is well above the 76.2 metres, and I feel quite contents to refuse this as it would impede the RAF to fly unhindered over the low flying area.”

But an issue with this proposal was highlighted by Mrs Bowen who stressed the MOD had not objected to the application.

The MOD had asked for conditions to be placed on the planning permission including details of a lighting scheme for the mast as well telling them when it would be built.

“This would give pilots knowledge of where it is, on the basis of this advice we don’t feel we are able to sustain an objection on those grounds,” said Mrs Bowen.

Despite this several councillors supported Cllr Wilkinson’s proposal.

Cllr Karl Lewis (Reform UK – Llandinam with Dolfor) said: “I’m more than happy to second Cllr Wilkinson’s proposal.

“We live in a very dangerous world only the other day one of our so-called allies, the French, fired on one of our MP’s even.

“We should avoid any restrictions to our air force; they should have free run of that area for their exercises.”

Cllr Wilkinson was asked to provide more details of planning reasons that could support the objection – but no more expansion of the argument against the scheme was forthcoming.

Committee chairman Cllr Gareth D Jones (Powys Independents – Llanfair Caereinion and Llanerfyl) said he would not allow Cllr Wilkinson’s proposal to be voted upon.

Cllr Jones said: ” I totally understand where you’re coming from but I’m struggling to accept that as the MOD have not objected.

“The proposal is a bit weak and opens us up to appeal.”

Cllr Jones said that the council would write to the MOD to highlight the concerns rising from the debate.

As officer’s recommendation to approve the scheme had already been proposed by Cllr David Selby (Liberal Democrat – Newtown Central and seconded by Cllr Corinna Kenyon-Wade (Liberal Democrat – this was then put to a vote.

This saw five councillors vote for the weather mast, four against and two councillors abstain.