August 18, 2010
Scotland

Backing for monitoring mast

By Gillian Duncan, The Press and Journal, www.pressandjournal.co.uk 18 August 2010

Councillors have backed plans for a monitoring mast which a community group fears will be the catalyst for a windfarm.

Planners urged members of the Marr area committee yesterday to support the application for a temporary 130ft wind-speed monitoring mast on land to the north-west of Minew Farm House, Torphins.

Concerns that the project could lead to a windfarm on the hill behind Pitmurchie House were raised at a meeting of Torphins Community Council last month.

The group sent a letter of objection to the council’s planning department concerned that a windfarm could blight views across the area.

Another letter, from John Lucas, of Village Farm Court, Torphins, said: “Erection of this mast would be a complete eyesore overlooking Torphins village (and surrounding area) and must not be allowed to go ahead.

“It may well be of a ‘temporary’ nature, but the obvious intent is – should wind speed tests prove to be satisfactory – construction of one, or more, permanent wind turbines.”

Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside councillor Peter Argyle said the application before them was for a wind monitoring mast only.

He said: “The objections, in a sense, are future objections.

“People see it as a precursor to a wind turbine or wind turbines.

“However, this is not what we are here to look at.”

Councillors unanimously backed the plans.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/08/18/backing-for-monitoring-mast/