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Plan could open up east Carse to turbines
Credit: by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Wednesday | www.stirlingobserver.co.uk 4 July 2012 ~~
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Translate: FROM English | TO English
Stirling Council says a plan for two wind turbines in Clackmannanshire would have a detrimental impact on communities and scenery here.
Clackmannanshire Council consulted Stirling Council on a revised application it has received for planning permission for two wind turbines at the former Black Devon landfill site.
The site is next to the River Forth, immediately south of Alloa.
The nearest turbine is around 2.6km from the Stirling Council boundary at Kersie Bridge and 2.8km from the closest residential property.
The nearest settlement in the Stirling Council area is Throsk, which is 4km away.
Stirling Council planners said: “The site is within the Carse of Forth local landscape character area. The proposed turbines are also located close to parts of the Firth of Forth special protection area, an internationally important bird and wetland conservation resource. One of these designated areas (Alloa Inches) falls partly within the Stirling Council boundary.
“Two overhead high-voltage power lines, supported on large pylons, run to the east of the site and there are other power lines in the wider landscape as well as chimneys and flues related to industrial activity in Alloa, Kincardine and Grangemouth. Notwithstanding these urban and industrial elements, much of the valley still has an open, agricultural character.
“The operational windfarms at Braes of Doune, Earlsburn and Craigengelt are all located in upland areas surrounding the Forth Valley. The Beauly to Denny power line will, if it follows the approved route, introduce new, tall man-made structures into the carse east of Stirling and rolling farmland around Cowie.”
Stirling Council officials, who raised concerns previously at plans for four 125m turbines on the site, added: “Stirling Council acknowledges that reducing the number of turbines from four to two and decreasing their height from 125 metres to 106 metres improves upon the original proposal.
“With respect to the Forth special protection area, in light of Scottish Natural Heritage’s view that its integrity will not be adversely affected, Stirling Council confirms it no longer wishes to raise any concerns in this regard.
“The remaining principal issue is therefore potential visual and landscape impact relative to the Stirling Council area, both as an individual proposal and in terms of cumulative impact.
“Stirling Council wishes to maintain previously stated concerns regarding: intermittent but significant detrimental effects on the low-lying eastern carse landscape of the Stirling area, which is recognised as having a high sensitivity to change; also intermittent but significant detrimental adverse visual effects, particularly in relation to Fallin and Throsk and the focal points of Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument.”
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