June 22, 2012
Scotland

‘Sign up to petition’ call over 19-turbine plans for hillside

By Ann-Marie Parry, The Press and Journal | www.pressandjournal.co.uk 22 June 2012

Protesters will get the chance to put their names to a petition tomorrow against a proposed windfarm on a Moray hillside.

Developer Vento Ludens wants to erect 19 turbines at Brown Muir, three miles outside Rothes, off the A941 Elgin to Rothes road.

With each turbine measuring up to 410ft, concerns have been raised over the visual and environmental impact of the project.

Due to the scale of the development, the plans have been submitted to the Scottish Government instead of Moray Council, but the local planningcommittee will still be consulted.

Fochabers and Lhanbryde councillor Sean Morton is not opposed to the plans, but hopes that the views of Moray residents will be heard by Scottish ministers.

He said: “I have had nobodytellmethat they are in favour of the proposed windfarm.

“There are a whole host of issues, such as the visual impact of the proposals and the potential noise of the development.

“I hope the Scottish Government will listen to the views of the council and I hope that the council will listen to people like my constituents, but that remains to be seen.”

German company Vento Ludens submitted its plans to the Scottish Government earlier this month.

The estimated energy output of the farm would generate enough electricity for 34,226 homes.

Peter Docherty, appointed by Vento Lundens to lead the community engagement process, said: “We have carried out extensive community consultation as part of the process and the views from that have been included in the planning documents.

“People have the right to get together and express their views.

“All we would ask is that they read all the information that is available about the project on our website and in local libraries.”

A public event being held to organise protests and a petition against the Brown Muir proposals will be held at Plainstones, High Street, Elgin, on Saturday

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/06/22/sign-up-to-petition-call-over-19-turbine-plans-for-hillside/