March 11, 2008
Scotland
Scotland
A campaign group which opposes plans for a windfarm overlooking a national park has lodged a 50-page objection to the scheme.
The proposal for seven wind turbines at Cushnie, near Alford, has met with criticism from local residents from the outset.
They are concerned at the visual impact on the surrounding area.
Cushnie Wind Action Group chairman Ray King says the 410ft turbines on the ridge of Pressendye hill, overlooking Tarland, will have a “severe negative impact” on views in the Cairngorm National Park.
The report has criticised Cushnie Wind Energy for failing to provide proper assurances that there will be no long-term damage to water sources, and says that analysis of bird species and numbers was not thorough enough.
More than 550 letters have been received by Aberdeenshire Council in response to the application.
Another campaign group, Stop Turbines on Pressendye, plans to have its objection submitted by the deadline on Thursday.
Spokesman Simon Welfare, of Easter Davoch, near Tarland, said: “We would say this is a development too far and Pressendye is not a suitable site for a windfarm.
“We don’t want something that does not provide jobs but will drive away the tourists, who do provide a lot of jobs.
“This could be the thin end of a very ugly wedge.
“If people are going to be applying to put up the tallest structures in Scotland on the edge of a national park, you wonder what the national park is all about.
“People accuse us of being nimbys, but I believe the only way of being responsibly green is to look after the piece of ground you exist on and make sure it’s suitable for generations to come.”
Agents for the developer held talks with West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles on Friday to try to allay some of his concerns after he criticised the application.
Mr Rumbles said he remained “resolutely opposed” to the proposals.
He said: “I was pleased to take up this invitation to meet with the developers, but having heard what they say I remain resolutely opposed to this proposed windfarm.
“I am supportive of renewable energy in general but I cannot think of a worse location than Pressendye.
“This is an area of outstanding natural beauty. We need wind energy but we cannot just give developers carte blanche to put these industrial developments anywhere in Scotland.”
11 March 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/03/11/cushnie-wind-action-group-lodge-objection/