BLAINA residents wouldn’t be affected by the building of a mountainside wind farm due to the size of the valley and skyline, a landscape architect told a public inquiry yesterday.

Colin Goodrum said that due to the ‘bold scale’ of the landscape of Mynydd James, building a wind farm on there would not affect views from houses within the area.

Pennant Wind Energy Ventures Ltd applied for permission to build four 328-foot high turbines on Mynydd James between Cwmtillery and Blaina but Blaenau Gwent Council threw out the application in January last year.

The developers, who are working on the project with Eco2 Ltd, appealed against the decision prompting a planning inspectorate inquiry.

Mr Goodrum said: “Due to the sheer breadth of the valley scope and the length of the skyline, putting turbines in place will not topple the strength of the place and the settlements in relation to the valley."

Tina Douglass, representing Blaenau Gwent Council, argued that the wind turbines would still be visible from many homes in the area and that the wind turbines would ruin the characteristic of the landscape.

She said: “The key characteristics of the place is the lack of man-made features and the clear and distinct skyline.”

Local campaign group Save Coity and Mynydd James and the Countryside Council for Wales are also presenting cases against the appeal.

The inquiry, being held at Blaina Evangelical Hall, is expected to last six days and will continue on Tuesday.