A MISCOMMUNICATION over a site visit between Caerphilly council’s planning team and the applicant for a giant wind turbine near Crumlin has led to a deferred decision.

Proposals for a 113m high wind turbine and associated works at the Durisol UK facility, close to the Pen-y-fan Country Park, were before the authority’s planning committee on Wednesday.

The committee heard that although a large number of residents, who have objected to the plans, attended the site visit on Monday, a representative from the Leeds-based firm Sirius Renewable Energy did not.

Cllr Mike Adams, the deputy mayor and chair of the planning committee, said that another site visit would need to be arranged, but was unsure whether the public could attend.

“It was very well attended by residents,” said the Labour ward member for Pontllanfraith.

“Whether or not we have a new site that it is open to residents, I’m not sure."

However, Chris Boardman, a senior development control officer and principal planner with Caerphilly council, said the applicant was keen to organise two site visits.

He added that the applicant was proposing a site visit to Trinant, whose residents – along with those living in Pentwyn – would be visually impacted by the height of the turbine, which will be located on the Pen-y-fan industrial estate.

“The applicant has requested a site visit at Trinant and the application site,” said Mr Boardman, adding no comments had been received stating it should be a private site visit.

Thirty-five letters of objection were received from residents about the proposals as well as a petition with 94 signatures and a letter of opposition from Rhianon Passmore, the Islwyn AM.

Cllr Mike Davies, the Plaid Cymru ward member for Crumlin, said it was important that re-arranged site visit should be open to all.

“Just for clarity, once the site visit is re-organised, I think the residents should have the opportunity to take a look around the site,” he said.

The application covered a turbine with a rated output capacity of up to two megawatts (MW), roughly able to power 400 homes with power.

The maximum overall tip height of the turbine would be 113m, with a hub height of 78m and rotor diameter of 66m.

The application outlined the associated infrastructure as an external transformer kiosk, a substation, underground cabling and a crane pad.

Concerns over the renewable energy argument outweighing the possible visual impact on residents of Pentwyn and Trinant, as well as the Pen-y-Fan Country Park, were raised in the objection letters.

There was unanimous support for the deferral.