May 17, 2007
U.K.

Visual impact of proposed wind farms causing concern in Pairc

Exhibitions held in Lochs this week showing Scottish and Southern Energy’s proposed 57-turbine wind farm development plans for the Pairc area met with a good deal of opposition.

Said Annie Macdonald, who was councillor for Lochs prior to the ward changes: “Those who attended the exhibitions in Kershader and Kinloch this week made their views known to the representatives of Scottish and Southern Energy.

“In Kershader, some were for it and some against, but in Laxay a large majority were against it. You will be able to see a cluster of up to 50 of the turbines from Laxay, Keose and Balallan. It will certainly have a visual impact on the people in these areas. It could well put people off the Pairc wind farm development and has the potential for many objections from the people in the Kinloch area.”

Scottish and Southern Energy’s project manager for the Pairc wind farm development, Chris Marden said that they were pleased with the turnout at the exhibitions.

He estimated that there were around 100 people at the Kershader venue.

“We did a preview for the crofters in the area ““ those with a direct interest in the land – between 2pm and 4pm on Monday and from then until 8pm we met the wider public.”

Regarding the reaction in Kershader, Mr Marden stated: “There was a range of reactions from those who were all for it to those who were all against it and those who were open minded, but wanted certain conditions.”

At the Kinloch, around 35 people attended the exhibition.

“It was a similar reaction there. Again, a range of reactions from people who were not in favour at all to those who said yes, good, to those who were fairly concerned and wanted certain conditions,” said Mr Marden.

When asked how Scottish and Southern Energy felt about the feelings of the people, Mr Marden stated: “For the first time, we were able to give people specific details and answer specific questions. From our point of view, we saw that some people were not in favour ““ we wouldn’t expect anything else. There are always people who won’t be in favour of things. But I think it was a fairly balanced reaction and we will be pleased with that.”

He pointed out that at one time there had been plans to build 125 smaller turbines. Now that they had all the information before them, they planned to build 57.

“They will be bigger machines with a bigger output,” he said, adding that the overall height of each machine would be 145 metres.

Stornoway Gazette

17 May 2007


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/05/17/visual-impact-of-proposed-wind-farms-causing-concern-in-pairc/