September 29, 2012
Scotland

Wind farm’s communication mast needed planning consent

The Berwickshire News and East Lothian Herald | www.berwickshirenews.co.uk 28 September 2012

Retrospective planning permission is being sought for a communications mast that has already been put up on Black Hill wind farm’s control building, sited two miles outside Duns.

The mast sends data from the wind farm to RES UK & Ireland Ltd’s operational central database and is secured in position by wall brackets and two sets of wire rope guys for additional security.

It is 7.6 metres structure on the side of the building – it’s sole purpose being for the operational requirements of Black Hill wind farm site.

In their application to Scottish Borders Council’s planning office, applicants RES said: “The existing communications mast that is the subject of this application will have a minimal impact on the surrounding area and the landscape and has been in situ since October 30, 2009.

“The process of this retrospective planning application to retain the mast is crucial in the operational requirements for Black Hill wind farm .”

Black Hill wind farm was one of the first in the Lammermuirs to be given planning permission in July 2001 but it did not become operational in 2007.

After receiving planning permission for the 22 wind turbines Renewable Energy Systems, waited until Scottish Power completed a £12 million upgrade of Berwickshire’s electricity supply following the severe storms in early 2001. The improvements meant that energy from the wind farm could be fed into the National Grid at Duns rather than Eccles as originally planned.

At the time it attracted minimal opposition but since then the proliferation of wind farm applications has caused concern amongst communities in the Lammermuirs and across the region, the area now becoming known as the ‘Land of the thousand turbines’.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/09/29/wind-farms-communication-mast-needed-planning-consent/