March 21, 2013
Scotland

Mayfield windfarm appeal lodged

Mar 21 2013 by Stuart Gillespie, Galloway News | www.dgstandard.co.uk

Plans for a windfarm which attracted more than 500 objections are back on the agenda.

Community Windpower ha. lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government after the Mayfield development near Kirkcudbright was thrown out by councillors in December.

They were worried about the effect the six, 130 metre tall turbines would have on the local landscape.

However, in the appeal Community Windpower claims the development would not have a “significant effect on landscape and character” of the Solway Coast regional scenic area.

The developers also believe there would not be an “unacceptable, significant” effect on the local landscape.

And they feel the development meets “the renewable energy and climate change policy at international, UK and Scottish Government guidance”.

Keith Mycock of local pressure group Turbine Watch 312 hit out at Community Windpower’s decision to pursue the development.

He said: “It is disappointing that Community Windpower have decided to appeal against the refusal of their Mayfield proposal, particularly as it was so overwhelmingly rejected by Dumfries and Galloway Council’s planning applications committee.

“This appeal will be a real test of the Scottish Government’s stated position that ‘only developments in the right place will be approved’.

“The development was contrary to the Dumfries and Galloway local planning policy and this view was supported by the council’s landscape architect and Scottish Natural Heritage.

“If the government sees fit to overturn the refusal of this application it will demonstrate their disdain for local democracy.”

Meanwhile, plans for a 50 wind turbine development will be unveiled to the public next week.

Swedish energy firm Vattenfall are planning to build South Kyle windfarm on the border between East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway, with around 20 of the turbines in Carsphairn Forest.

If given the go ahead it will be capable of generating up to 150 megawatts and Vattenfall are proposing to run a community benefit fund worth £750,000 a year – which could see as much as £15million handed out over the development’s 20 year lifespan.

The plans will be displayed in Carsphairn’s Lagwyne Hall between 2pm and 8pm on Tuesday.

Vattenfall’s senior project manager, Alison Daugherty, said: “We first visited the local communities at the end of 2011 before we had developed a layout of the windfarm. Since then the project team has listened carefully to the views and comments given at each community meeting and has used them along with those of the statutory consultees as a basis for the South Kyle windfarm design.

“We have undertaken a detailed design process resulting in a proposal for 50 wind turbines, each of which could have a generating capacity of up to 3.6MW. We would like to thank the community for sharing their knowledge and insights with us.

“Productive discussions took place at the first and second round of public exhibitions and we look forward to informing local residents of our detailed plans. We are looking forward to the next phase of development when South Kyle becomes a live planning submission and ideas on how this significant project could aid investment into the community can really be firmed up. ”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/21/mayfield-windfarm-appeal-lodged/