March 16, 2011
Scotland

Calls to reject ‘overbearing’ windfarm bid

By Stephen Christie, The Press and Journal, www.pressandjournal.co.uk 16 March 2011

A windfarm earmarked for a Buchan peat field would be “dominant and overbearing”, planning chiefs have warned.

Aberdeenshire Council officials are urging members of the authority’s infrastructure services committee to throw out the proposal for St Fergus, near Peterhead.

The committee is expected to rule on the application for the three-turbine development when it meets this week.

Edinburgh-based Greenspan Agency is steering the project and hopes to build at St Fergus Moss, about six miles north of Peterhead.

In contrast to many other turbine schemes, it has attracted no objections and the council received 19 letters in support.

Supporters claim the turbines would be “visually attractive” and would benefit the community.

Buchan councillors initially went against planners’ recommendations and backed the proposal, before it was referred to the infrastructure committee.

They argued that because the Buchan landscape is dominated by large industrial structures – such as Peterhead Power Station and the St Fergus gas terminal – the three 330ft masts would fit in.

The planning service branded the development “large, overly dominant and overbearing”, however.

A spokesman said the overall impact would be unacceptable alongside other existing and planned turbines, and it would also set a precedent “in an area that is home to increased numbers of wind developments”.

He added: “The cumulative impact of the proposed development, as viewed along with other consented turbines in the area, would detrimentally change the character of the area.”

The infrastructure services committee is due to meet at Woodhill House, Aberdeen, tomorrow.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/03/16/calls-to-reject-overbearing-windfarm-bid/