Huge solar farms are being earmarked for construction across Montgomeryshire over the next 10 years as developers continue to eye clean energy projects in the area.
The Land Development Plan for the county is in its final stages but included are plans to create up to 20 solar farms, with one being a whopping 280-acre site between Newtown and Rhayader at Bwlch y Sarnau.
Other medium scale ones are at Trefen, Trefeglwys; Staylittle; Domgay, near Llandrinio; Heldre Hill east of Welshpool; Drysgol north of Rhayader; and Camlo Hill, also near Rhayader.
The development will replace the need for wind farms which have been scaled back by around 90 per cent in the plans.
Small-scale sites proposed include Bachyydrada near Tregeiriog; Abertridwr near Lake Vyrnwy; Fridd Llwydiarth near Dolanog; Buttington near Welshpool; Glynhafren near Lyn Clwyedog; Bryn Blaen near Llangurig; Bryn Titli also near Llangurig; Bwlch y Sarnau; Llandegley Rhos near Llandegley; Gilwern Hill near Frank’s Bridge; Nant Fawr near Lower Chapel; Llandyfalle Hill also near Lower Chapel and Ddyle near Abbeycymhir.
Anti-wind farm campaigners CPRW were reported in the Shropshire Star as being concerned because although the Local Search Areas (LSA) for wind have been withdrawn, they say there remains proposed policies “which still encourage turbine developments”.
