A PLANNING inspector appointed by the Welsh Government has granted permission for a wind turbine in Mathry.

The proposal by Bryan Farmer was refused by Pembrokeshire County Council in January. It included siting a single 50kw turbine measuring 34.2 metres high at The Paddock.

Mr Farmer appealed against the decision and planning inspector Sian Worden carried out a site visit on June 26, before issuing her decision to allow the appeal earlier this month.

In her report, Ms Worden said: “The nature, location, siting and scale of the proposed development would be compatible with the capacity and character of the site and the area within which it would be located. It would not adversely affect landscape character, quality or diversity including the special qualities of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.”

Local planning agent Martin Horne welcomed the decision. He said: “This is the second turbine appeal allowed in this area in recent months and in both cases we always felt the sites were well chosen and should have been approved by the local planning authority.

“It is very unfortunate that the Paddock application was refused by the Planning and Rights of Way committee despite having an officer recommendation for approval. I hope the committee will review its position on refusing small scale turbine proposals seemingly because there is local opposition.”