By Claire Warrender, The Courier, www.thecourier.co.uk 21 April 2011By Claire Warrender, The Courier, www.thecourier.co.uk 21 April 2011
Plans for a wind farm condemned as a major safety hazard for planes using Fife Airport have been put on hold.
An independent safety report ordered by Fife Council concluded the proposal at the former Westfield opencast site near Kinglassie could have tragic consequences if an inexperienced pilot lost altitude.
However, as the report was completed recently, applicant Infinis Ltd said it had not had enough time to consider it properly.
The council’s planning committee agreed this week that the application should not be discussed as planned, but should be postponed until its next meeting in June.
Planners recommended the application for five turbines be refused, with development manager Jim Birrell stating, “There would be a significant impact on the safe operation of the airfield and therefore the application is unacceptable.”
He added that safety was the only issue, as other matters did not create any significant problems.
Airport owners Tayside Aviation appointed a consultant who concluded the turbines were not appropriate.
However an independent report for the applicant claimed there would be no detrimental impact on aviation safety for flights into and out of the airport.
Fife Council received 112 letters of representation in relation to the application – four in support and the rest against.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/04/22/councillors-agree-to-give-wind-farm-applicant-more-time-to-consider-fife-airport-safety-concerns/