DIFFERENT council departments are giving conflicting advice on plans to build a livestock barn and a new access road at a farm near Presteigne.

The application by Ms E Hammel for The Slangs, Cascob, near Presteigne, is being backed by planning officers, but refused by highways officers.

The application has been called in by County Councillor for Llangunllo, Hywel Lewis (Independent) and will be heard by Powys County Council’s planning committee on Thursday, February 7.

Cllr Lewis was asked to bring the application in front of the planning committed due to issues with the site.

Cllr Lewis said: “I note the site is extremely sloping and the drawings submitted do not show how the building can be accommodated on such a sloping site.

“I would have expected proper surveyor drawings and report to accompany the application.

“In the planning statement, reference has been made to evidence of a previous but now disused access, having visited the site, I can find no such evidence.”

Whitton Community Council stated that it also could not find any evidence of the previous and now disused road access which is located around 0.6 kilometres to the west of Cascob.

A report by the Highways Department on the application states that the gate is too close to the road for an agricultural access and they don’t know what the gradient that the access could be.

Due to this they recommended refusal as the proposal would be “detrimental to highway safety conditions.”

A design and access statement on behalf of the applicant explains that the barn is for:

• Storage of hay and straw

• Storage of agricultural machinery

• Covered area to work with stock during inclement weather

• Housing for two work horses during inclement weather

• Emergency housing for goats during extreme weather

Planning case officer, Sara Robinson, said: “It is noted that a number of objections have been received at the time of writing.

“Whilst the comments raised have been noted it is considered that the proposed development fundamentally complies with relevant planning policy.

“It is therefore considered that the proposed development fundamentally complies with relevant planning proposal is one of approval.”