April 24, 2013
Scotland

Fears over turbines blight on landscape

By Mark Mackay | The Courier | 24 April 2013 |By Mark Mackay | The Courier | 24 April 2013 |

A bid to erect Scotland’s largest wind turbines in rural Perthshire will today take its first step.

The towers would dwarf the Sidlaw hills and would be visible the length of the Carse of Gowrie and from Fife.

Objectors fear they will destroy the landscape and ecology of the Tay Estuary, blight tourism and dominate the skyline.

At 135 metres they would be considerably bigger than Dundee’s Michelin turbines, which themselves measure a mammoth 120 metres.

Green power developers Banks Renewables, however, have high hopes for the plan and will today seek permission to erect a wind measuring mast near the village of Balbeggie.

The 80 metre structure is the first step towards the creation of an eight turbine windfarm, with each tower rising 135 metres into the sky.

It will be considered by elected members at a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council’s development management committee.

During extensive meetings with community groups, managing director Colin Anderson said “well-designed windfarms in appropriate areas” had the potential to be “incredibly positive for the local economy, environment and the lives of local people”.

Objectors are, however, expected to turn out in force in a bid to persuade local councillors to block the plan from outset.

They fear that the mast – and future turbines – could devastate the landscape, damage the environment, harm local bird life and even impact on aviation.

Council planners have, however, warned that many of the objections are “premature” and have recommended that the mast plan be approved.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/24/fears-over-turbines-blight-on-landscape/