September 15, 2006
U.K.
U.K.
Jamie Buchan
Councillors have agreed to visit the site of a proposed 260ft wind turbine in the heart of rural Buchan.
Farmer Peter Chapman has tabled plans to install the lone unit on a grazing field at North Redbog, near Strichen.
Biggar firm Green Cat Renewables will help build the turbine which will be connected to the national grid via an underground link to a 11kW overhead power line.
The three-blade device will generate 1.5MW of electricity and will be built alongside a smaller building containing meters and protection equipment.
The application, which will be brought before local councillors tomorrow, has provoked complaints from some residents. They fear the turbine would be a blot on the landscape, and they argue it will offer no environmental or economic benefits to the area.
One objector said: “The local authority shouldn’t be making matters worse by agreeing to this obstructive and disfiguring development.”
Another resident added: “This will lead to a permanent disruption of the rural area.”
Aberdeenshire Council received three objections about the proposed development and one letter welcoming it.
Planning officers have also supported the initiative, subject to a handful of conditions. They say before consent can be granted, a full investigation into possible TV and radio interference should be carried out.
Local councillor Stan Tennant has called for members of the Buchan area committee to visit the site.
He said: “I think we have to see this for ourselves to look at what kind of impact there could be on the surrounding countryside.”
The matter is expected to be brought back to the local area committee, following the officials’ site visit, next month.
Banff and Buchan area committee members have visited the site and given their backing. The neighbouring committee was asked to consider any impact on its section of the north-east.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/09/15/site-visit-agreed-for-proposed-wind-turbine/