August 24, 2012
Scotland

Moray windfarm’s potential impact ‘being played down’

By Kaye Nicolson | The Press and Journal | www.pressandjournal.co.uk 24 August 2012

Members of a Moray community group have claimed the firm behind plans for a controversial windfarm are “playing down” its potential impact.

Representatives of Innes Community Council have produced a 15-page document on proposals for the 19-turbine development at Brown Muir, three miles outside Rothes, off the A941 Elgin to Rothes road.

The public have until August 31 to lodge representations to the proposals, which have been tabled by German firm Vento Ludens. A petition against the project has attracted hundreds of signatures. Due to its scale, the plans have been submitted to the Scottish Government rather than Moray Council.

Innes Community Council’s report highlights a raft of issues.

It criticises online documents published as part of the planning application, claiming they “do not give full and proper information on every stage of the development and construction of the site nor the full decommissioning programme”.

It claims the reports of the plans are “of poor quality”.

Community councillors said they were also concerned that Vento Ludens had not explained what would happen to peat being moved from Brown Muir, or given detail on the carbon footprint of construction vehicles.

The report adds: “No mention is made of views from the A96 AberdeenInverness road, especially that part between Fochabers and Elgin.” It also claims thatdiagrams in the planning application are “not accurate”.

“In our opinion the consultants for the developer have used their photography and writing skills to play down how big an impact this development will have on the landscape and skyline of the northern portion of Moray,” the report adds.

Community councillors also voiced concerns about the heavy concentration of wind turbines in Moray and Aberdeenshire, the impact on wildlife, and any permanent scarring which could be left on the hillside after the development.

Dr Jay Butler, of Vento Ludens, said last night:“We have taken careful note of Innes Community Council’s representation to the Scottish Government and will review the comments made in full and provide a detailed response to the ScottishGovernmentas the planning authority for this application.

“In the meantime, we would wish to emphasise the exhaustive process of preparation and pre-application consultation our application has gone through prior to submission and the great care we have taken to ensure the application complies with all relevant guidance and best practice.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/08/24/moray-windfarms-potential-impact-being-played-down/