DEVELOPERS have expressed their deep disappointment at the decision of the County Council’s Planning Committee to reject an application for the erection of five wind turbines near Rhoscrowther.

Rhoscrowther Wind Farm, which marks an overall capital investment of £17m, was refused by the Council’s Planning and Rights of Way Committee on Tuesday January 20.

The decision follows a recommendation to refuse by Pembrokeshire County Council Planners.

Despite the Council’s own landscape consultant stating that they consider the scheme to be broadly acceptable and no objections from statutory consultees including CADW, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, the refusal has been made on grounds of historic environment as well as landscape and visual impact.

The developer, Rhoscrowther Wind Farm Limited has drawn attention to the findings of the Council’s own landscape consultant, who said: “On balance, however I would still consider this scheme to be broadly acceptable but would be wary of ensuring that this would not set a precedent for further similar development… Should the scheme be refused and go to an appeal, I consider it could be difficult to contest on landscape and visual grounds.”

Steven Radford of Rhoscrowther Wind Farm Ltd commented: “I’m obviously disappointed with the Committee’s decisions to reject our project, however we are confident that not only is Rhoscrowther Wind Farm a suitable and appropriate development with regard to substantial national (PPW), local (Local Plan) and site specific (SPG) policy support for turbines in this location but also one which provides significant economic and social benefits to an area in great need of both. Since submitting our application we have worked hard to engage the local community and wider stakeholders including the South Wales Chamber of Commerce and Pembrokeshire College. If consented, we made the commitment to front-end the last five years of the project’s community benefit, which has allowed for approximately £300,000 being made available as soon as construction begins. This will help fund capital projects brought forward by local community groups, such as the Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Amateur Boxing Club.”

Rhoscrowther Wind Farm is committed to providing £1.56m for local community projects if it is granted planning consent. This means that £62,500 will be made available each year once the project is in construction for local community groups to apply for.

Local resident, Paul Barnikel stated: “I am perhaps the closest resident to the scheme with my house looking directly onto the site of the proposed wind farm. Even then I have no objection towards the project whatsoever and in fact fully support it. What better place for a wind farm than one in front of an oil refinery?”

Addressing Tuesday’s meeting, local resident Keith Bradley pointed out that a similar scheme had been previously rejected by the Planning Inspectorate as having an unacceptable visual impact on the environment: “Five 110 metre turbines placed on this site is a vast increase on the development that was previously rejected. The same criteria should apply here.”

Quoting from the manifesto of County lClr John Allen-Mirehouse, Mr Bradley continued by pointing out the content of Mr Mirehouse’s manifesto in 2012’s election when he stated that the visual impact of the development that was rejected was ‘so great, we must turn it down.’”

Before he could further develop the theme of just how dramatically and mysteriously Mr Mirehouse’s views had changed, Mr Bradley was cut off.