Plans for wind turbine in Wainfelin

Porthcawl-based MDA Renewables Ltd has applied to Torfaen council to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Opinion.

This would see the company ascertain whether or not they need to supply an Environmental Impact Assessment to the council when they make a planning application.

An EIA is designed to give the council an idea of what, if any, impact on the local environment any potential development might have.

The plan is for a single 45-metre-tall wind turbine to stand at Tyr Hen Forwen, near Cefn Crib Road, Pantygasseg, Pontypool.

The application to Torfaen council states the turbine would stand on land owned by Sian White, who would back the installation of the 225kw turbine as part of the UK Government’s Feed-in-Tariff scheme. In short, that scheme sees local communities that choose to house things like wind turbines benefit by receiving some of the revenue.

The initial report to Torfaen suggests that as the turbine is smaller than conventional large commercial turbines it would produce less noise pollution, something that is regularly raised by local communities opposing windfarms and turbines being erected.

Torfaen now has three weeks to respond to the request. At a meeting of Pontypool Community Council, councillors deferred making comments on the proposals until they find out more about it.

The clerk of the council, Ruth Tucker, said she would be inviting experts to attend the council in the coming weeks to give members a fuller idea of what the plans might entail, and the potential impact , both positive and negative for the area.