Powys councillors are concerned and disappointed over the lack of information being provided by developers for a wind farm proposal near Llangurig.

At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Planning Committee on 12 October, councillors were asked to agree the draft Local Impact Report (LIR) for the proposal to build six wind turbines at Banc Du.

Bute Energy is behind the proposal, and the site consists of hilltop moorland and pockets of woodland around a kilometre to the north of Llangurig.

Five of the turbines will have a maximum height of 200 metres and one a maximum height of 180 metres.

The planning application is being dealt with by Welsh Government planning inspectors at PEDW (Planning and Environment Decisions Wales), as it is classed as a Development of National Significance (DNS).

This means that Powys County Council is a consultee and not a decision-maker, and the LIR is the authority’s chance to feed into the consultation process.

The LIR says the overall impact of the development will be neutral, but shows that there are 13 negative outcomes, with only two positives noted.

Development team manager Gemma James reminded councillors that they were not there to make “an overall recommendation to approve or refuse” the application.

Mrs James said: “We don’t receive public representation or views from the local community; those go to PEDW directly and are considered when they make their recommendation.

“Your role here today is to consider whether the LIR fairly and accurately identifies and assesses the impact of the proposal.”

Cllr David Selby said: “I wanted to explore the issue of cumulative effect.

“This report has been produced as if this is standing by itself when it clearly isn’t.”

He asked if it was possible to strengthen this section in the report and “make the point strongly”.

Senior planning officer Richard Edwards said: “We’re not making judgements about the acceptability of the proposal.

“The cumulative impact has been raised.

“The landscape and built heritage assessments have been rated negative, and they consider the lack of cumulative impact of the existing and proposed wind farms in the area – that has been stated for PEDW to consider.”

Cllr Huw Williams said: “How is the electricity to be transferred from this site?

“Is it overground or underground?

“Where will it go?

“Having read the report, I sense there is a need for more information. Is that a fair reflection?”

Mr Edwards said: “Consultee responses have highlighted deficiencies and a lack of information in certain areas, which has created uncertainty and requires further clarification.

“That has led to a number of negative responses.”

Cllr Gareth E Jones suggested that the response to PEDW should include a statement saying: “the authority is very disappointed in the lack of information being supplied by the applicant.”

Committee chairman Cllr Gareth D Jones said he would be “happy” to send a letter to PEDW on their behalf, stressing the lack of details.

This was agreed, and councillors eventually voted to back the LIR, which will now be sent to PEDW.