May 17, 2012
Scotland

Developers of giant windfarm face critics

By Jamie Buchan, The Press and Journal, 17 May 2012

Developers behind plans for Buchan’s biggest windfarm have come face to face with opponents.

Green energy firm PNE Wind is holding a series of public sessions this week to highlight its ambitious bid for a 12-turbine development near Hatton, south of Peterhead.

The company wants to show the public draft proposals before an application for planning permission is lodged later this year.

However, an awareness group set up to try to block the scheme is making its feelings heard with a series of demonstrations.

Members of the group, made up of local residents, have been staging protests outside PNE’S public sessions, lobbying visitors as they come in.

Campaigners, under the banner the Moss of Cruden Windfarm Action Group, gathered at a meeting in Longside on Tuesday, Longhaven yesterday and plan to be at Hatton Village Hall today.

Michele Emslie said: “We are not against wind turbines but we feel that this is too big and in the wrong location. It is way too close to people’s homes.”

She said the earmarked land was a “sensitive area” that was home to the Moss of Cruden, a site of special scientific interest.

The Moss, which has been subject to national geological studies, is regarded as particularly important because it provides evidence of the Buchan landscape since the Cretaceous period about 135million years ago.

A document drawn up by Aberdeenshire Council for potential windfarm developers states that any development that had a direct or indirect impact on the moss area “is unlikely to be supported”.

Objectors have also raised concerns about noise and shadow flicker.

Rosie Vetter, project and communities manager for PNE, said the Moss of Cruden formed a large part of the earmarked site but would not be affected by the turbines.

“We have known about this since day one,” she said. “But we don’t intend to build any turbines on that part of the area.”

She said the consultation sessions had been well attended so far. Feedback, she said, had been largely positive.

The next session will be held at Hatton Village Hall today from 11.30am-5pm.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/05/17/developers-of-giant-windfarm-face-critics/