January 29, 2008
Scotland
Scotland
Proposals for a controversial windfarm on hills above Tarland, reported in last week’s Piper, have drawn a number of objections from local people.
The Piper reported how members of two action groups objecting to the proposed windfarm on the hill of Pressendye had launched a website to inspire more local residents to join in their campaign.
Cushnie Wind Energy – a joint venture between Falck Renewables Ltd and RDC Scotland – wants to build the seven 125m high turbines and a substation with the potential to provide enough energy to power 5,500 homes and displace more than 26,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
A flood of letters – all but one objecting to the windfarm – have been received by the Piper this week.
One objector, Theodor W Oostindie, said: “The imminent application for yet another windfarm – this time in a prominent location overlooking some of the most beautiful scenery in Deeside – can only be viewed with incredulity.”
Another letter came from Mr T Shaw, who said: “Our unspoilt natural environment is being slowly but surely spoilt.
Everything the area promotes itself as being, is slowly being eroded. With a poorly-sited windfarm this will have severe consequences for local people, tourists, birds and other wildlife, habitat and the very ground these turbines will be sited on.”
In his letter, Andy Rankin adds: “How can seven turbines ever hope to make any significant contribution to the supply of electricity in the Cushnie area, never mind nationally?”
And Dugie Foreman, of Wark Farm, Cushnie, said: “As individuals and communities, we should be looking to manage our energy requirements at a local/regional level, addressing both energy efficiency and generation.
“Making renewable energy generation into an international commodity, however, results in a serious skewing of the costs and benefits of the technology to the detriment of the local area.”
The Cushnie site is classed as a Tier Four site under the local authority planning guidance and is, therefore, considered an appropriate location for a development of this kind.
A website opposing the plans was launched last week by SToP (Stop Turbines on Pressendye), an action group of people living around Tarland, with contributions from members of CWAG (Cushnie Wind Action Group), who also live close to the proposed site, on the border between Deeside and Donside.
By Kim Walton
24 January 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/01/29/turbulence-ahead-for-tarland-windfarm/