Almost 200 people packed a public meeting in a Mid Wales village to raise concerns over controversial windfarm developments.

Fears were raised that hundreds of extra turbines could be installed on the hills above their community.

But those at the meeting yesterday at Llanbadarn Ffynydd heard from windfarm developers and a British Wind Energy Agency representative who urged them to embrace the green energy system and its infrastructure.

Many at the meeting are worried windfarms will be imposed on them by the Welsh Assembly Government.And they asked the Government to carry out a proper consultation with the local community on the issue, a plea backed by MP Roger Williams and AMs Nick Bourne and Kirsty Williams.

And the three agreed to look into the possibility of a referendum on whether residents wanted windfarm developments.

Councillor John Brunt, Powys County Council member for Beguildy, who chaired the meeting, said the two-hour meeting had been “very lively”.

“Lots of questions were asked and there was lots of discussion, but also concern the views of the local people should be taken into consideration,” he said.

Councillor Brunt said three windfarm developers were represented – Nuon, RES and Llaiddu Windfarm – and all said their planning applications for the area were likely to be submitted in December or January.

But, he said, no-one was prepared or able to answer questions on how many more developments were likely, how many turbines would be involved and how much electricity they would produce.

Questions were also asked about how much money would be likely to be provided by the developers to benefit the affected communities.

Dan Munford, for Conservation of Upland Montgomeryshire, who attended the meeting, said: “None of the three representatives of the windfarm companies who attended the meeting were able to give a convincing answer to my question regarding whether windfarm development makes any significant contribution to global warming at all.”W