December 29, 2011
Scotland

Council object to turbines

Kincardineshire Observer, www.kincardineshireobserver.co.uk 28 December 2011

Mearns Community Council has objected to three major windfarm developments planned for the Garvock Hill.

The council’s decision to object to proposals for an extension to the existing Tullo scheme (5 turbines) and the schemes at neighbouring Easter Tulloch (5 turbines) and The Sheils (3 turbines) follows a meeting to consult the public held in Laurencekirk at the end of November.

In their submission to Aberdeenshire Council, the community council says: “Neighbour notification has been poor regarding these proposed developments and people feel excluded from the planning process.

“The 400 metre exclusion zone from neighbouring residencies is not sufficient to prevent noise disturbance to residents. The (Scottish Government) recommended 2km distance should be implemented immediately.

“The cumulative impact of these three proposed wind turbine developments must be considered because of the significance of the landscape and the increase in turbine noise that local residents will have to endure.

“The industrialisation of this area of landscape significance should be avoided. Many other wind farm applications have already been approved and the majority community response to these three applications is that enough is enough.

“Mearns Community Council cannot support these three windfarm applications and request refusal on the aforementioned grounds.”

The public meeting also considered applications for smaller turbines on the floor of the Howe, namely two turbines at Thornton and one each at Brigton, Gossesslie, Caldame, Waterlair, Upper Powburn and Scotston.

The council said: “These turbine applications, whilst individually representing little impact on the surrounding area, have significant cumulative impact.

“Whilst recognising that each application is considered individually, Mearns Community Council strongly recommends that the cumulative distribution of 50 metre and over wind turbines should not be allowed to impact on the landscape. Careful consideration therefore is required on proliferation of individual turbines.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/12/29/council-object-to-turbines/