A GROUP from Presteigne and Knighton have sent a petition in favour of a windfarm at Stonewall Hill to local town councils and Powys County Council.
A planning application has been submitted to Powys County Council for the road at Llanshay Lane, near Knighton, to be widened, which will enable the construction of Reeves Hill windfarm.
Local mum Rachel Francis, who is in favour of the windfarm, said: “The wind represents an inexhaustible supply of free energy. Nobody actually owns the wind.
“Any community with shares in wind turbines receives the benefits from the sale of the electricity produced and these profits can be ploughed back into local insulation schemes or cycle paths or community heating systems. This is the beginning of development that is sustainable and it needs support.
“That is why, this week, the local petition has been prepared, signed by 40 supporters and sent to members of Knighton Town Council, Presteigne and Norton Town Council, and Powys County Council.
“Planning laws exist for good reasons and it would also be wrong to criticise people who oppose planning applications because they love their spot in the countryside and don’t want it to change. But there is a bigger picture to be weighed against each windfarm that is turned down.”
The petition states: “We understand that this is a difficult decision and we all know that there are good arguments for and also against the windfarm.
“However, the completed site studies show that Stonewall Hill is a good site for the turbines, with good generating capacity and no long-term threat to wildlife or our lovely local environment.
“Therefore, planning permission for construction of the windfarm has been given, with an over-whelming majority of councillors - 14 to four - in favour at Hereford County Council.
“For the development to go forward, Powys County Council will need to give planning permission for Llanshay Lane to be improved for access. We urge you to support this.”
It also sates that Reeves Hill “can lead the way” in carbon reduction, that the windfarm would provide significant employment opportunities and that the community would benefit from a Community Fund of up to £10,000 per year, per turbine.
Rachel Francis added: “There are opportunities for local communities and farmers to create new businesses or supplement existing businesses with renewables.
“This generates jobs and wealth for the area at a time when our young people desperately need them, but there are barriers to progress and we need local support.”