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‘Fools’ gold’ will not sway Angus windfarm campaigners
Credit: By Richard Watt, 10 April 2013 | www.thecourier.co.uk ~~
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A plan to build an Angus windfarm less than 200 metres from a failed development has been criticised by campaigners.
Public exhibitions will be held in the Forfar area next week on Carse Gray Estate and Element Power’s proposal for the St Mary’s Well.
The windfarm would be composed of up to five turbines with a maximum tip height of 100m but residents have vowed to fight plans and say they will not accept a “fools’ gold” community payment to sway them.
The exhibitions begin on April 18, before the formal submission of plans, which the developers said have evolved considerably.
Susan Oliphant has been elected chairwoman of Stop Turbines at Lunanhead (STAL) and said she is “overwhelmed” by the number of people voicing opposition to the windfarm, which would be visible from the A90 and across the Strathmore valley.
“A large number of people have raised concerns that the developers are offering so-called community benefits, which is being seen as an inducement not to object,” she said.
“It is fools’ gold if accepted, as the landscape would be seriously affected and homes blighted for a quarter of a century.”
A smaller windfarm nearby at Finavon Hill was recently rejected by the Scottish Government but Element Power project director Neil Lindsay said there are many places in Angus “where it would not be possible” to construct a windfarm because of local or national constraints.
He added: “Over the past year we have carried out a wide variety of technical and environmental studies and, as a result of these and our consultations with local people and organisations, we believe that the site of St Mary’s Well is suitable for a small windfarm.
“Since our first round of public exhibitions, in July last year, the site design has continued to evolve and our new layout has been improved to take into account issues identified during the consultation.
“We are confident that the substantial benefits that this scheme would bring to the area are understood and would be welcomed by many people and we do hope that as many members of the community as possible come along to the exhibitions to see the updated design.”
The turbines on Carse Gray Estate, to the north-east of Forfar, would have a total capacity of up to 12Mw and supply up to 6,338 homes with power, the firm said.
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