March 13, 2013
Scotland

Dodd Hill windfarm plan blocked by counillors

By Graham Brown | The Courier | 13 March 2013 | www.thecourier.co.uk

Windfarm campaigners have claimed victory against another large scale Angus proposal.

Welsh firm West Coast Energy saw their Dodd Hill plan near Tealing blocked by councillors – the second Angus rejection the company has received in recent months.

Planning officials had recommended refusal of the five-turbine scheme for a 184-hectare site north-east of Tealing, with the proposal described by one councillor as being an “inappropriate location for a windfarm of this scale.”

Objectors to the 10-15 megawatt capacity plan said they did not want to see wind turbines bigger than the London Eye appearing on the landscape. The tip height of the turbines would be around 125m.

Over 170 letters of opposition were submitted and residents gathered a 291-signature petition from outdoor enthusiasts who visited the Dodd Hill area.

Resident George Dewar, speaking on behalf of campaign group Against Carrot/Dodd Turbines Action Group said: “We are extremely concerned about the potential impact these industrial scale turbines will have.

“The reason for the whirlwind of windfarm applications is the level of public subsidy and companies are drawn to Scotland to speculate on hitting the windfarm jackpot.”

Ashley Dewar added: “West Coast Energy don’t care for our area, they are only interested in the certificate they get to put these monstrosities on our countryside.”

West Coast Energy planning director Steve Salt rejected those criticisms, saying the company was a “responsible and community-minded wind farm developer.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/13/dodd-hill-windfarm-plan-blocked-by-counillors/