June 22, 2007
U.K.
U.K.
The company behind a proposed windfarm near Ceres has urged Fife Council to decide on the plan within four months.
EnergieKontor has submitted a planning application for a development at Gathercauld including five windturbine generators, a substation and access tracks.
The application to Fife Council – which came 15 months after EnergieKontor first announced the project – noted the determination period for such a plan was 16 weeks.
“Given the considerable amount of ‘front-loading’ that has gone into the preparation of the enclosed submission, we would expect your authority to be able to make a decision within this timescale,” it said.
EnergieKontor project manager Mick McLoughlin told the Fife Herald his company had sent “a clear signal to the authority that they have targets to meet”.
EnergieKontor appealed to the Scottish Executive after the council failed to decide on its earlier application for a windfarm near Auchtermuchty.
Mr McLoughlin said EnergieKontor’s application was in “tip-top condition” and the onus was now on Fife Council to perform.
No changes to the Gathercauld plan had been made as a result of a public exhibition in Craigrothie last month.
“We’ve covered all the angles, covered all the bases,” he said.
Ceres and District Environment and Amenity Protection Group, which opposes a windfarm at Gathercauld, met last week to discuss the application.
Chairman Graham Lang said even though the project had been reduced from 13 turbines to five, the visual impact was still extremely significant.
“That will not be the end of it and EnergieKontor will not be satisfied until they get the dozen or so originally proposed,” said Mr Lang.
“The benefits to the community other than the rent paid to the farmers and some unspecified local employment is minimal.
“Any perceived benefits do not outweigh the damage to communities over a wide area and local commerce will obviously suffer if visitors steer clear of Ceres and Pitscottie.”
By Janet Howie
21 June 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/06/22/energykontor-seek-early-decision-on-windfarm-plan/