Councillors poised to approve giant SSE wind farm for South Lochs

Western Isles councillors are fully expected to back a controversial £108 million giant wind farm for Pairc in south east Lewis.

15 months ago they went against hundreds of public objections and recommended partial consent for the contentious development.

But rather that take a risk at a public inquiry developers Scottish and Southern Energy has now cut the development by half.

The remaining 26 turbines are the same ones recommended by councillors in December 2007. It is fully expected that the revised scheme will be passed today when it reaches the planning committee at its meeting in Stornoway.

However, the ultimate decision for the 94 megawatt scheme lies with the Scottish Government.

The council’s economic officials point out that only 13 jobs will be undertaken by local contractors over the two-year construction phase plus another 14 local indirect posts.

In the longer term 12 positions to operate the wind farm would be based in the islands.

A package of community benefit stands at £306,000 year which would be spilt between the council-led Western Isles Development Trust and the immediate villages. If invested appropriately this could create 10 jobs on the islands.

SSE will pay the rent worth between nearly £7 million and £12 million over 25 years — expected to be split 50/50 between the estate landlord and crofters.

In total there would be 33 local jobs created when the scheme is in operation say officials.

Fearing a possible public inquiry which would further delay the go-ahead, councillors are set to request that the Scottish minister Jim Mather grants planning permission.

It is understood that the Scottish Government has received thousands of objections against the scheme.

However a council report says that it received 217 letters of public opposition last time yet only one — from Pairc Community Council — was sent to it for this application.

Council officers recommend 61 planning conditions including burying all transmission cables underground.

Island fishery bodies have objected fearing large amounts of silt could affect salmon and trout. Along with Halcrow consultants, they also raise concerns over peat slides.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has submitted an objection as it fears a negative impact on otters. It is also concerned that it could kill or affect protected species like white-tailed eagles, red throated divers and back-throated divers.

It adds: “This wind farm would still result in some significant adverse landscape and visual impacts.

“At 145 metres high, these turbines would form very dominant features seen from properties and roads.”

It slams SSE for a “significant omission” in failing to undertake a survey of the cumulative affect with the neighbouring Feiroshbhal wind farm.

It says 28 golden eagles are predicted to be killed from the turbines and its cumulative effect with other proposed schemes.

RSPB says the number of golden eagle kills is “unacceptably high.”

the body points out it may consider withdrawing its objection for less turbines or if the layout was changed to avoid collisions from the eagles.

This is the third time SSE have changed their plans for the Pairc estate.

Originally it wanted to erect 125 turbines but this was slashed to just 57 machines when the official application was lodged in June 2007.

SSE now wants to build just 26 machines across crofting and private moor land in South Lochs.

In December 2007 the planning committee of Western Isles Council refused to pass the whole scheme despite many councillors lamenting the potential multi-million pound loss of community benefit.

At the full council a few days later, the issue was not discussed but passed on the nod though it officially endorsed the principle of constructing a widespread wind farm development in the district.

SSE is understood to be concerned that principle consultee Western Isles Council — which is supportive of giant wind farm applications — knocked back over half the turbines.

At the time villagers warned that replacing all the 31 sites the council found unfavourable and satisfying the authority’s criteria would be difficult exercise on a reconfigured layout on the Pairc moorland.

In the event they were right and eventually SSE simply eliminated the 31 turbines opposed by the council and stuck with 26 of the original sites.

Islanders were also angry over the dominant visual impact of a long line of turbines which would be seen from Kinloch and running parallel with Loch Erisort along the main tourist route to Harris.

Hebrides News

21 April 2009

Tags: Wind power, Wind energy

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