Major wind farm road route trial start in Wales

The lorry will travel along the M4 and A470

Controversial plans to transport wind turbine blades and towers along mid Wales' country roads are being tested.

A lorry towing an extended trailer with a police escort carried out the first trial run on Tuesday from Newport, and there is second planned for Wednesday.

The truck travelled the M4 and A470 to Powys without incident and delays to motorists were minimised.

Last year, a report warned that "significant disruption" could be caused by taking turbines by road.

The Welsh Assembly Government said Tuesday's trial to a remote area three miles south of the village of Dolfor, near Newtown, passed without incident.

A further test run to mid Wales is planned next month from Ellesmere Port docks in north west England, when a truck and its police escort will navigate roads down from north Wales.

It is anticipated that any delays to the travelling public will be kept to a minimum and are unlikely to exceed 10 minutes A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman

By the time the convoy reached its destination by early afternoon on Tuesday, it had travelled along the M4, the A470 to Brecon, eastwards to Herefordshire on the A483, the A4111 to Kington, the A44 to Crossgates, and the A483 north of Llandrindod Wells.

The Welsh Assembly Government said it was the first of a number of trials planned for this year.

Tuesday's test run simulated the transportation of a turbine blade, while Wednesday's will simulate a turbine tower section.

An assembly government spokesman said the trial would test the "viability of routes for the transportation of wind farm components by road".

He added: "The trial vehicle is due to leave Newport after the morning peak and arrive at its destination in mid Wales by early afternoon.

"The vehicle will have a police escort and will be collapsed to the size of a standard HGV (heavy goods vehicle) for its return journey.

The route starts in Newport and ends up south of Dolfor, Powys

"The trial vehicle is light and can move reasonably swiftly particularly on the parts of the route where it travels on the M4 and A470 and should not inconvenience other traffic. It is anticipated that any delays to the travelling public will be kept to a minimum and are unlikely to exceed 10 minutes."

Huge lorries

A report for Powys council by consultants Capita Symonds last year, highlighted the logistical problems of transporting a new generation of larger and more powerful turbines to the uplands of mid Wales.

It said narrow country roads would have difficulty coping with the trucks needed for the structures, some standing at 400ft (122m).

Lorries measuring 180ft (55m) long, 16ft (5m) wide and weighing nearly 130 tonnes, would travel through the county five days a week for five years, making more than 3,000 journeys, said the report.

Welshpool Town Council, in Powys, is concerned the area's road network will to be unable to cope with the huge lorries.

There are plans to redevelop wind farms in Carno and Llandinam, near Newtown.

More information and details of the roads involved in the route trial are available at the traffic information website at www.traffic-wales.com