December 21, 2007
Scotland
Scotland
A Cupar geologist has questioned whether the land earmarked for the proposed Ceres windfarm would provide a safe platform for the turbines.
Professor John McManus provided comments to Fife Council at the request of the Ceres and District Environment and Amenity Protection Group, which opposes the development.
EnergieKontor applied to build five wind turbines at Gathercauld, near Ceres, but the project has attracted strong community opposition.
Professor McManus, who retired as professor of geology at St Andrews University in 2001, said the sites chosen for the turbine towers would be “emplaced in terrain whose quality is dubious and is underlain by very varied bed rocks”.
He said the sites might have been undermined for the winning of coals before the time of detailed mapping and records and extensive investigation would be essential.
“In the absence of such detailed site investigation, it would be very unwise for the work to be given permission to proceed.
“If the towers were erected there would be no guarantee that the resultant stresses on the potentially undermined bedrocks beneath any concreted foundations would maintain their stability and continue to provide a safe and stable perform for the super structure.
“As a consultant, I would see it as my duty to try to dissuade a client from undertaking the venture,” he said.
By Janet Howie
19 December 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/12/21/concern-over-stability-of-ceres-windfarm-site/