PLANNERS are taking to the skies today to view a proposed site for a £25 million windfarm in the mountains above Brynmawr and Blaenavon.

Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen councillors are to visit the site by helicopter for an environmental assessment before the plans go before Blaenau Gwent council's planning committee.

The scheme for the 90-metre turbines on Coity, Mynydd James and Cefn Coch mountains are unpopular with many local people and farmers - despite £4 million for community benefits being offered by the developers Pennant Wind Energy Ventures.

The company plans to give local communities £150,000 to £200,000 a year for 20 years - and this could grow to £8 million with match funding. Councillor Mark Holland, of Cwmtillery, said that the money was "an insult."

"It would be shared out between six communities - it is negligible," he told the Argus.

An organisation called Scam - Save Coity and Mynydd James - has held public meetings for people to voice their feelings.

Councillor Holland, who is vice-chairman of the group, added: "I am very concerned about the effect this could have on property prices in the area and the visual impact."

Around 15 farmers living close to the site in Blaenavon have also voiced objections.

They say the turbines will dominate the view, devalue their properties, take away public rights of way and grazing land and could effect their electricity supply.

Ron Phillips, of Garn-Y-Erw farm, said: "There was no proper consultation with all of the commoners associations."