May 28, 2011
Scotland

Developers advised to withdraw windfarm application

by Stuart Gillespie, Galloway News, icdumfries.icnetwork.co.uk 19 May 2011

Proposals for a new windfarm in the Stewartry look set to be put on hold for a year.

Developers Community Windpower Ltd have been advised to withdraw their application for a seven -turbine farm on land between Rhoneouse, Tongland and Kirkcudbright.

The council say that the environmental statement which formed part of their planning application for Mayfield Community Windfarm is lacking information and they are unable to make a decision on the proposal.

One thing they say they need is a bird study, which it is believed would take almost a year to complete.

The News revealed in April that the environmental statement contained a number of errors, claiming the windfarm would benefit Lancashire and referring to the River Dee in the north of Scotland.

Scottish Natural Heritage, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for Scotland, the Galloway Fisheries Trust and Historic Scotland have all expressed their concerns about a lack of information to the council.

As a result, planning head Steve Rogers has written to Community Windpower to “strongly encourage” them to withdraw the application.

And he warns that if that doesn’t happen, it will be refused due to “insufficient information on which to form a proper judgment”.

Mr Rogers says that any new application must include information of bird survey work, electro survey work on waterways and an assessment of indirect impacts on Historic Scotland’s cultural assets.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/05/28/developers-advised-to-withdraw-windfarm-application/