March 28, 2007
U.K.

Mast plans for historical site

A scheduled Ancient Monument near Lockerbie could thwart an Edinburgh-based company’s long-term plans for a windfarm.

Firtree Hill Fort – an open landscape site dating back to the first Millennium BC – stands in its way.

Other features on the site range from prehistoric to post-medieval.

Wind Energy (Newfield) Ltd has submitted a formal scoping application to the Scottish Executive for 125 metres high turbines, with a rotor blade diameter of 90 metres, which would be capable of producing 78 megawatts of electricity, at Newfield above Sibbaldbie.

And, as part of the process before seeking full permission, they have submitted plans to Dumfries and Galloway Council for two 60 metres high temporary meteorological masts on Newfield Moor to measure wind speed for two years.

Their data could determine the viability of a future windfarm and Wind Energy say two meteorological masts are needed.

Annandale and Eskdale councillors are due to discuss the applications on Monday and are being recommended to refuse one of the proposed masts which would stand to the east of Sibbaldbie.

Historic Scotland has raised an objection to the proposed mast to the east by claiming it would have “a significantly adverse impact” on the setting of the protected monument which is of national importance and of significant archaeological interest.

Planners, who are recommending approval of the second mast, say the first is contrary to policies and would have a detrimental effect.

Opposition to both has come from Lockerbie Community Council and the anti windfarm lobby group, Trees Not Turbines.

icdumfries

28 March 2007


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/03/28/mast-plans-for-historical-site/