May 9, 2013
Scotland

Windfarm plans scaled down

May 9 2013 by Stuart Gillespie, Galloway News | www.dgstandard.co.uk

Plans for a £130 million windfarm in the Glenkens have been scaled down.

Burcote Wind had wanted to build 36 turbines at Longburn, between Carsphairn and Moniaive.

But, after speaking to people in the community, the Fife developers are now only proposing 20 135m tall turbines.

The new proposals for the 72-megawatt development will go on display in Carsphairn and Dalry later this month.

Burcote chairman Graham Brown said: “We held our first set of public exhibitions in October when we received a range of comments and feedback from the community about our initial proposal and potential uses for the associated community benefit fund.

“This has helped us to shape revised proposals. In particular, we’ve been able to optimise the lay-out in a way that enables us to mitigate further any potential impacts while maximising efficiency of the windfarm.

“We’ve also made important progress in our more detailed discussions about potential uses for the proposed community benefit fund.

“Burcote believes that community benefit funds should be used to deliver long-term, socio-economic goals that will benefit the area during the operation of the wind farm and beyond through legacy funds.

“Discussions with the community liaison group have so far proved extremely fruitful with a wide range of ideas being put forward for use of the fund.

“These have included specific ideas for creating employment opportunities and helping to develop local skills and education.”

Burcote’s new proposals, along with 3D models and members of their project team, will be in Dalry Town Hall between 3pm and 6.30pm on May 15 and between 1pm and 7pm in Carsphairn’s Lagwyne Hall the following day.

The company is proposing to set up a community benefit fund worth as much as £360,000 a year if the development is given the go-ahead.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/05/09/windfarm-plans-scaled-down/