December 24, 2010
Scotland

Councillor has new Buchan windfarm plan

By Stephen Christie, The Press and Journal, www.pressandjournal.co.uk 24 December 2010

A Buchan councillor has revealed fresh plans to build wind turbines on his north-east farm.

Peter Chapman hopes to erect two 260ft towers at Redbog, near Strichen.

It marks his third planning application for turbines and, if approved, would bring the number of towers on his land to four.

He won approval for a 260ft turbine in 2006 and a similar-sized structure a year later.

Calls were made earlier this year for Mr Chapman, the Conservative member for central Buchan, to be banned from making decisions on all windfarm projects in Aberdeenshire.

Objectors to a scheme at Auchenten, near Hatton, which Mr Chapman had nothing to do with, claimed the councillor had a conflict of interest.

They wrote to Aberdeenshire Council chief executive Colin Mackenzie requesting that Mr Chapman and fellow Buchan councillor Albert Howie be excluded from making decisions on turbines.

Mr Chapman labelled their request “ridiculous”, however, adding: “I have no personal interest in any other windfarm except my own.”

The councillor’s 2006 wind turbine bid received a frosty reception from neighbours when it was revealed.

Residents feared the turbine would be a blot on the landscape and argued the development would offer no environmental or economic benefits to the area.

Aberdeenshire Council received three objections about the proposed development and one letter welcoming it.

Mr Chapman is working with Green Cat Renewables on his latest turbine development.

The public have until January 27 to comment on the application.

Mr Howie, the central Buchan independent member, won approval to build three 260ft turbines at his farm at West Knock, Stuartfield, in February.

He said the scheme, which would generate enough electricity to power up to 4,000 homes, was a family venture to benefit the local community.

The Buchan area committee, of which Mr Howie is a member, approved the West Knock Farm plan at a meeting at Peterhead.

Mr Howie left the room while his application was considered.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/12/24/councillor-has-new-buchan-windfarm-plan/