March 1, 2012
Scotland

Storm continues over Lingo windfarm plan

Fife Today, www.fifetoday.co.uk 1 March 2012

Opponents of controversial proposals by a Welsh-based energy company to create a windfarm in the countryside near St Andrews have set up a dedicated website to fight the plans.

Behind the Lingo windfarm is West Coast Energy which has earmarked farmland north of the B940, between Largoward and Dunino, for the development.

It would have an installed capacity of 12.5MW consisting of five 100-metre high turbines, with an individual blade length of 40 metres on a line running west to east at Lingo and South Kinaldy Farms.

Local activist group, STACK – Stop Turbines At Cameron/Kinaldy – has unveiled a campaign website at http://saynotolingo.org.uk/ to fight the project.

A spokesperson for STACK told the Citizen:”The proposed turbines would be erected on the 155-metre contour, almost on the skyline. They would completely dominate the landscape and tower over nearby properties.

HEIGHT

“The perceived height from nearby properties, which are mainly at 140 metres or below, is, therefore ,over 120 metres.”

He added that the campaign group was “dismayed” that West Coast Energy had not modified its proposal, despite a public consultation process.

The company, which has lodged a formal application with Fife Council planners, is expected to pocket an estimated £25 million during the 25-year lifespan of the turbines, according to STACK.

The campaign group also maintain that the landowners stand to net an annual income of £125,000.

DISTANCE

The spokesperson added: ”The developer and the landowners will be aware of the problems some people have who live in close proximity to industrial scale wind turbines but, given that, they still choose to proceed with this development.

‘‘The developer wants the subsidies, the landowners want the rent, and never mind about anything else.”

Some 68 properties lie within two kilometres of the site, including the Acorn Nursery.

According to STACK, the only thing that protects windfarm neighbours from excessive noise nuisance is distance and the campaigners claim that the turbines are “too close to too many people.”

The website invites objectors to register with STACK for news, updates and also offers detailed guidance about how to object to Fife Council and how to contact the local MP, MSP and councillors.

West Coast Energy say that the windfarm – it will cost £15 million to build – will be able to power around 7000 homes a year using green energy.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/03/01/storm-continues-over-lingo-windfarm-plan/