A MEMBER of Pembrokeshire’s planning committee said he was struggling to find a worse place to put a wind turbine when considering an application last week.

Councillor Tony Wilcox was responding to a proposal submitted by Norvento Wind Energy UK at last Tuesday’s (January 20) meeting.

It sought permission to site two 35.4 metre high wind turbines on land roughly 3 kilometres to the south west of Hundleton.

Planning officers recommended that the application be refused as the turbines “would have a significant adverse impact on the character and visual amenity of the area, including the setting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.”

The National Park Authority also objected on visual impact grounds.

The applicant’s agent Nigel Moore said the Director of Development’s report was “overly cautious and too harsh without any evidence to warrant such an approach.”

He added: “At the heart of this application is a farming operation and the income generated by the proposal would open up next opportunities for the family to consolidate on site and continue the countryside stewardship already practised.”

Speaking for the objectors, Keith Bradney said: “Our main objection is the adverse visual impact and the harmful effect on tourism in south Pembrokeshire.

“The turbines will dominate the rolling farmland leading down to Freshwater West.”

Councillors were unanimous in voting in favour of refusing the application.