Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Council turbine proposals are potential stitch-up
Credit: By Stuart Crowther, local.stv.tv 13 June 2011 ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
An attempt by Moray council planning officials to clarify regulations on planning permission for wind turbines could lead to a potential stitch-up, according to campaigners.
A discussion paper is to be put to the Planning and Regulatory Services Committee on Tuesday, proposing measures that are intended to clarify the minimum distances between new wind turbine installations and homes or other buildings.
However, rather than providing clarification the proposals serve only to confuse the issue further, according to Dave Townsend of the Cummingston Residents Action Group (CRAG).
Four separate proposals have been lodged to erect seven wind turbines which will encircle Cummingston village, proposals that CRAG and neighbouring residents have strongly opposed.
The discussion paper contains a proposal to adopt a methodology adopted by Highland, Aberdeenshire and East Ayrshire, that the distance between a proposed turbine and nearby property should be set at ten times the diameter of the turbine rotor diameter.
However, Mr Townsend pointed out that such a proposal would make little effective difference in Moray proposals. He said: “It looks to me like a stitch-up in the making.
“The majority of the current 106 wind turbine proposals in Moray would be unaffected by a 10-times rotor diameter ruling, due to the height of the predominantly smaller turbines proposed here being less than 40 metres.
“The ruling itself I had interpreted to supposedly only relate to visual considerations associated with light flicker and shadow, not the other health, safety and environmental impact planning considerations.
“I would contend that setting aside for a moment the cumulative visual impact of turbines sprouting up all over Moray, the real issue is the distance that any debris might be thrown in the event of a turbine failure.
“The safety ruling should also apply not only to properties but their surrounding grounds, any public areas, roads or public footpaths.”
The planning department paper also highlights a variety of issues brought by the erection of wind turbines, including noise impact, loss of amenity and changes to landscape, shadow flicker and electro-magnetic interference.
Following strong opposition from residents, Moray planners agreed earlier this year that consideration of the construction of four of the turbines overlooking Cummingston should be put before a full meeting of the planning committee.
While that was first expected at the April meeting, the proposal was delayed, and CRAG members have noted that the proposal does not appear to be scheduled for the meeting on Tuesday.
The Cummingston proposal is also thought to have attracted an objection from the MoD in respect of the proximity of the proposal to nearby RAF Lossiemouth.
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
Wind Watch relies entirely on User Contributions |
(via Stripe) |
(via Paypal) |
Share: