March 27, 2013
Scotland

Ruling on turbine plan ‘could set precedent’

Evening Express | 27 March 2013 |

A horse centre could be at the centre of EU moves against wind turbines.

Plans for two turbines near Banff were booted out by the Scottish Reporter, who said the machines would spook horses at nearby Balhagan Equestrian Services.

Scots Euro MP Struan Stevenson said the Newton of Foulzie turbines should be used as an EU test case to prevent further wind masts being built near horse-riding centres. He said: “The Reporter has clearly set a precedent for other horse-owners concerned about the chance that wind turbines could scare their animals.

“With more and more wind farms springing up on rural farmland it is inevitable that riders will face the risk of being thrown by horses startled by the sight and noise of turbines, especially when they are tested at full speed with little warning.”

Mr Stevenson has raised the risk to horses from windfarms with the European Commission.

The 80m (260ft) turbines would have been built on farmland on the Hill of Foulzie, about 500m from the Balhagan Equestrian Centre at Longmanhill.

The plan was rejected by Banff and Buchan area committee in October and Scottish Reporter Douglas Hope has now dismissed an appeal.

Balhagan Equestrian Services owner Fiona MacKinnon said she would have been forced to sell up if the turbines had been built. She said: “It is a huge relief the business that we have built from scratch can now carry on for years to come, as planned.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/27/ruling-on-turbine-plan-could-set-precedent/