April 5, 2013
Scotland

Toward wind turbine proposals back on agenda

The Buteman | 5 April 2013 | www.buteman.co.ukThe Buteman | 5 April 2013 | www.buteman.co.uk

Proposals to erect wind turbines at the south end of the Toward peninsula, directly opposite Rothesay Bay, are back on the agenda after the submission of two separate planning applications.

Both proposals – for one turbine at Toward Farm, and two more on land to the west of Newton Park – were the subject of previous applications, made and then withdrawn in the space of a few months in the summer of 2012.

Each of the three proposed turbines would be 47.02 metres high and capable of generating 225KW of electricity.

The Toward Farm application is in the name of Mr David Mundell, and the Newton Park application in the name of Mr John Stirling, though the agents for both applications are VG Energy, of Waterside Farm in Galston, Ayrshire.

All three turbines, if built, would be clearly visible from parts of Bute’s eastern shore, particularly in the Craigmore area.

One island resident, Tony Harrison of Ascog, told The Buteman: “Both these if they were to be approved would significantly change views from many parts of Bute and from our main ferry access route.

“The views across Rothesay Bay have long been an important element of the islands tourist experience and in my opinion residents should be made aware of these applications.

“From a visual perspective they will affect Bute much more than Dunoon, yet how many islanders are aware of the applications?”

At the time of writing Mr Harrison was one of three people to have objected to the new Toward Farm application, and one of nine objectors to the new proposal for the Newton Park site, though the latter has also attracted three expressions of support.

The previous Toward Farm application was received by Argyll and Bute Council on June 25, 2012, and a letter of withdrawal was published on the council’s website on August 9.

The first application for the Newton Farm site was received by the council on July 13 last year, and was withdrawn on September 4.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/05/toward-wind-turbine-proposals-back-on-agenda/