FOR the second time in just over three months a planning application to build a barn on a slopey field near Presteigne was refused permission.

The application by Ella Hamel, to build a barn  to store machinery and fodder at “The Slangs”, had already received 11 letters of objection from residents as it went in front of Powys County Council’s planning committee.

Planning officers had recommended refusal.

Councillor Hywel Lewis (Independent – Llangunllo)  called the application in front of the committee and spoke on behalf of the residents about it at the meeting.

Cllr Lewis, said: “I’m fully supportive of officers’ recommendations.

“The Slangs is not a name of a holding, but merely a field which is approximately 25 acres of very steep sloping land.

“This is the same application as the one if February, but the access has been left out.”

He also pointed out there had been no indication on what will happen to the ramshackle buildings built higgledy-piggledy on the site, and known as the “Shanty Town” by residents.

These buildings had been the subject of a successful enforcement action by Powys County Council against Ms Hammel.

Residents have feared that Ms Hammel’s ultimate aim is to build a home in the field.

Speaking on behalf of residents Staphanie Cruz added Ms Hammel had bought the land in 2017 and had effectively lived on the site.

Ms Cruz, believed that the decisions taken by the last committee were being ignored by the applicant.

Ms Cruz said: “It is suggested that the barn will only house livestock in circumstances of extreme weather and when goats are birthing.

“However given the considerable expense of having a custom built livestock barn.

“Surely it is more likely the applicant will seek to maximise return on the outlay and utilise the building for other activities, on a more daily basis?

“Further who will police such a statement and who is going to define extreme weather in a valley ruled by extremes?”

Cllr Elwyn Vaughan, (Plaid Cymru – Glantwymyn) said: “We had a long discussion on this a few weeks ago.

“Nothing has really changed, it’s the same, I recommend we agree with the officers and refuse this.”

Councillors voted unanimously to refuse the application.

Since December 2017,  four planning applications to build at “The Slangs” have been refused including today’s (Thursday, May 23).

Another application in February 2018 was withdrawn.

In March, a Welsh Government planning inspector upheld an enforcement notice by PCC against Ms Hemmell which stopped the use of the field for residential purposes.

A caravan and all temporary buildings (The Shanty Town) there need to be removed following the decision.