February 17, 2012
Scotland

Community council objects to windfarm

by Stuart Gillespie, Galloway News, www.dgstandard.co.uk 16 February 2012

Plans for a £21 million windfarm near Kirkcudbright have come under fire from the town’s community council.

Members agreed to lodge an objection to the proposed Mayfield Community Windfarm at last week’s meeting.

Cheshire-based Community Windpower Ltd want to build six 130m tall turbines between Kirkcudbright, Rhonehouse and Tongland. They claim the windfarm could generate as much as 20.4 megawatts and would cost £21.8 million to build.

But at last week’s community council there was concern about the impact the development could have on the area.

Keith Mycock, of Turbine Watch 312, said it was important to object to the plans because it could lead to similar developments nearby.

Mr Mycock added: “Once the precedent is started, I don’t know how you stop it.”

He added it would completely “scupper” Dumfries and Galloway’s interim planning policy for renewable energy developments as it would go against their recommendations for that area.

Community councillors agreed to lodge an objection.

Community Windpower this week claimed in a statement the development would bring “substantial investment to the regional and local economy”.

Aside from the £21.8million initial investment – when local contractors would be given priority – there would be an annual local investment of £1.7million.

That would be for the lifetime of the farm, around 25 years, and would include business rates, rents, maintenance and an annual community benefit fund of £102,000.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/02/17/community-council-objects-to-windfarm/