April 2, 2013
Scotland

Opposition to windfarm stepping up in Perthshire

By Richard Burdge, 2 April 2013 | www.thecourier.co.ukBy Richard Burdge, 2 April 2013 | www.thecourier.co.uk

The fight to stop a windfarm extension on the rural fringes of Perthshire is set to be taken to an appeal.

The application for seven wind turbines at Frandy Hill, south of the Upper and Lower Glendevon Reservoirs, has already been refused permission.

Perth and Kinross councillors have agreed to defend an appeal by the developer after they turned the plan down because of the impact on the landscape.

The site lies on the upper slopes of the Ochil Hills, north of Tillicoultry and south of Blackford.

A report by council officers noted 39 letters of support had been received, raising issues such as the economic benefits and the contribution to Co2 reduction targets.

From the opposing camp, 32 letters of objection had been received, claiming the windfarm would have adverse landscape impacts, harm bird life and have a detrimental effect on the tourism economy.

Members of the council’s development management committee decided they were not satisfied the energy contribution of the proposed turbines would outweigh the significant adverse effects on the local environmental.

However, the same committee approved another proposal for the same developer, two additional turbines at Burnfoot Hill, south of the Upper and Lower Glendevon Reservoirs.

This application was for two additional turbines to the existing 13 which make up Burnfoot Hill windfarm.

Although the existing windfarm is located in Clackmannanshire, the extension would be sited within Perth and Kinross.

The size and turbine type would be consistent with those others in the existing windfarm. The application site is on the upper slopes of the Ochil Hills to the north of Burnfoot Hill.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/02/opposition-to-windfarm-stepping-up-in-perthshire/