Councillors have refused plans to build a 46metre wind turbine near Dingestow yesterday (Tuesday 3rd December).

The application for a 50kw turbine at the 'Milking Folds', Lower Pen y Clawdd Farm, was being discussed at Monmouthshire County Council's planning meeting as the Beacon went to press.

Officers were recommending that councillors refuse planning permission because "insufficient appropriate survey information" had been submitted for the authority to make an informed decision.

Their main concerns were the impact the turbine would have on the appearance of the local landscape and its effect on nature conservation.

But it is both national policy and in Monmouthshire's Unitary Development Plan to encourage renewable energy sources.

The Welsh Government has set targets to increase the amount of energy produced from onshore wind farms and has identified seven areas where they should be concentrated, but none of these are in Monmouthshire.

More than 100 objections have been submitted to the council with the main issues being the turbine's visual impact, noise emissions, loss of residential amenity and potential harm to wildlife.

Some residents have expressed concern that allowing one turbine will set a precedent and lead to more, while others feel it inappropriate to site such a structure in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

A letter in support of the proposal claimed the objections were lodged on principle rather than on the information provided, and were disproportionate to the impact of a single turbine. Another, from the Country Land and Business Association, said the plans would allow rural businesses to diversify and be more competitive.

Pictured are protesters earlier this year close to the site of the proposed wind turbine