April 27, 2013
Scotland

Turbines turned down on grounds of impact

Apr 26 2013 by Iain Howie, Perthshire Advertiser | www.perthshireadvertiser.co.ukApr 26 2013 by Iain Howie, Perthshire Advertiser | www.perthshireadvertiser.co.uk

Residents confronted councillors over plans for seven wind turbines in a part of Perthshire at a meeting on Wednesday.

Although there was a recommendation that Perth and Kinross Council’s development management committee turn down the Scottishpower Renewables proposals for Bamff, near Alyth, a delegation from the area turned up to passionately underline their opposition.

Led by resident Jill Hobhouse, whose home would be within 2km of the majority of the structures, opponents listed their concerns about the massing of windfarms in the area, noise and the impact on tourism and the Cateran Trail.

And Roger Clegg, a community councillor in Angus, explained the cross-council border impact the turbines would have.

Members were shown images and photomontages of the sites of the turbines viewed from points around the Big County, with photos taken at Kinnoull Hill in Perth, Bridge of Cally and Alyth.

Ms Hobhouse said that PKC placed tourism high on its priorities, with the industry worth £30 million to the economy and supporting 4000 jobs.

She said that the turbines, coupled with existing and proposed windfarm sites around Angus and Perthshire, would adversely affect tourism because of the cumulative visual impact.

And she pointed out that the windfarms they had associated infrastructure such as transmission lines which obstruct residents’ lives and business.

The Ministry of Defence had also complained the turbines would affect its operations at Leuchars, even after the removal of its Typhoon aircraft.

Kirriemuir and Landward West Community Council chairman Roger Clegg pointed out that, because it was a PKC decision, his community in Angus was not statutorily involved in the planning process.

He suggested that cross-border collaboration was necessary in this type of application, particularly with his view that it would have a cumulative impact.

The committee was not provided with a landscape and visual impact assessment, which development quality manager Nick Brian said diminished the case.

Councillor Alan Livingstone said he wanted to turn down the application on the grounds of the impact on tourism.

He said a study had shown that Perth and Kinross and Stirling’s tourism economies could be £6.3m worse off in 2015 than they would have been without wind farms, which would otherwise have supported between 30 and 339 jobs.