December 11, 2012
Scotland

Community payments by windfarm operators labelled ‘pie in the sky’ by Angus campaigners

By Richard Watt | The Courier | 10 December 2012 | www.thecourier.co.uk

A protest group against turbines near Brechin has unleashed a broadside after an appeal was made to Angus Council on behalf of developer Eurowind UK.

Director Ian Lindsay asked the council to consider a clear ”win-win” in supporting the 17-turbine development at Glen Lethnot, while a £200,000-per-annum community benefit has been suggested.

But a representative for anti-turbine lobby Stop Windfarm At Nathro (Swan) has rubbished economic benefits for the area.

”The potential damage to the local economy which would result from this development would far outweigh the so-called benefits that Eurowind claims, which are ludicrous figures with no basis in reality,” he said.

”The Angus Glens attract thousands of visitors every year and already support local businesses and employ many more people than this hideous industrial eyesore could ever do.

”Angus Council must do their duty to protect our cultural heritage.”

Eurowind UK, through its subsidiary Nathro Hill Wind Farm Ltd, proposes a ”significant” community benefit investment for the area, should consent be given.

This equates to £3.5K per MW installed capacity, which could generate more than £200,000 per year (index linked), depending on final installed capacity.

The proposed windfarm, on the Careston Estate at Glen Lethnot, would be about 10 kilometres northwest of the A90, composed of 17 turbines with a maximum total capacity of around 60 megawatts.

The Scottish Government is considering the proposal but ”pie in the sky” community payments offered by windfarm companies in Angus have already been criticised by local campaigner Fiona Dow.

Mrs Dow said an estimated figure of around £20m for the Angus economy does not add up to much over a 25-year period.

”Nowadays we talk about millions like they’re nothing,” she said.

”It may look tempting but a million pounds doesn’t get you much. The amenity of the landscape here is worth far more than that – you can’t put a price on it.

Mr Lindsay had said: ”The opportunity to tackle the biggest environmental threat facing the world while investing significant income in the Angus economy is probably the clearest win-win Angus Council is going to find in the middle of a recession.”

The Swan campaigner, who asked not to be named, added: ”Most of the country have already woken up to the real truth about windfarm economics.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/12/11/community-payments-by-windfarm-operators-labelled-pie-in-the-sky-by-angus-campaigners/