October 20, 2007
Scotland
Scotland
Controversial plans for a road to serve a proposed Carron Valley windfarm are being backed by council planners, despite local fears.
Stirling Council planners are recommending conditional approval of the application by Scotia Wind Ltd.
The company wants to build an access track for the proposed Craigengelt windfarm on land between Kingsburgh at Chartershall Road and Blackrow, at New Line Road at Chartershall.
The new route plan has stirred strong feelings among locals, including Carron Valley Community Council.
One objection raised concerns that the route would be intrusive in the countryside and stated if the route was to be agreed there should be minimum disruption to the roads, access gates should be locked and the route should not be used for any purpose other than transporting components to the windfarm site.
Carron Valley Community Council has also formally objected to the road proposal.
It says the roads to and from the haul road were not built for the weight, volume or size of traffic the windfarm development will generate and it will also alter the rural character of the road.
Council planners said: “This application is linked to the windfarm proposal at Craigengelt, which is still being processed. The application seeks planning permission to form a haul road across agricultural land to enable large components for the wind turbines to be transported to the windfarm site.
“It is noted that a new road across the field will alter the character of the field, however upon completion of the windfarm development the gates will be removed and the hedge replanted thereby reducing the main public visual impact of the development.
“There will be a minimum disruption to the road since the loads will be escorted to the site, the gates will be locked to ensure there is no unauthorised access and the route will only be used for the purpose of transporting components to the windfarm site.
“The type of vehicles that will convey the components to the site are highly unusual in terms of their length. There are few roads capable of accommodating such vehicles, however windfarms tend to be located in rural, upland areas where roads need to be modified to accommodate the vehicles.
“This road is only required for the turbine components, such as the tower and blades, so will only be used for a limited period during the construction period and the vehicles will be escorted the length of the route. The road services have no objections.”
19 October 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/10/20/opposition-to-new-road-at-proposed-windfarm/