Officers from Powys County Council's Highways Department admitted they made a mistake by wanting passing bays built as part of a "chicken shed" development.

Highways officer Alastair Knox told the planning committee that conditions asking for passing bays to be built at Craignant, Painscastle, had essentially been a training exercise.

Applicant John Abberley wanted to have the condition removed and the application had landed in front of the planning committee for a decision.

Several of the committee were fuming that the 16,000 bird free range egg unit had already been built.

According to the planning permission given in November 2017 by officers under delegated powers, the bays were supposed to have been built first.

Cllr E Michael Jones said: "It's difficult to understand, the highways department position on this.

"They said this required passing bays. there must have been good reasons for this at the time.

"Why aren't they objecting to the removal of this condition.

"The road is problematic enough as it is.

"A reduction would have been acceptable, but to go down to none, they will have to reverse back down the road."

Mr Knox said: "I've spoken to officers who dealt with the original case and unfortunately I have to offer my apologies to the committee.

"It was a mistake that these conditions were included in the first place, it does come out on a B (B4594) road

"It was reviewed by one of our senior officers who concluded that this would not have stood up to appeal, and we hold our hands up."

Councillors delved further and wanted to know the reasons.

Mr Knox replied: "It was looked at by a new officer in post, as a training thing they go through they are asked to prepare responses.

"The officer was a little enthusiastic and for some reason, we don't know why, it slipped through the checking process. It's that simple unfortunately."

Councillors then turned to the fact that the chicken shed had been built prematurely.

Cllr Karen Laurie-Parry: "It's alarming that construction was allowed to go ahead before these passing bays were built.

"This doesn't stand us in good stead with the local community. There are already chickens there."

Cllr Huw Williams, said: "I'm not happy with this removal. You have a business that knew this was a condition to have passing bays. And carried on building the shed even though the pe-condition was not carried out and now they are asking for it to be removed completely."

Cllr Kahryn Silk said that the department had "rolled over" by allowing them to have the condition removed.

Planning Officer Tamsin Law said that the application had been submitted after investigation that the shed had been built before the planning bays.

She said: "I appreciate that members are not necessarily content but that's the situation we are in. Highways don't recognise that it's a reasonable condition."

"The principle of development is still acceptable and I am aware that retrospective applications are frustrating this committee."

The application was passed and it was pointed out that the original decision in November 2017 had been made by officers using delegated powers.