May 13, 2013
Scotland

Hopes for rejection of Angus windfarm

By Graham Brown, 13 May 2013 | www.thecourier.co.uk

Planners have recommended a thumbs down for yet another Angus windfarm.

A six-turbine, 4.8MW proposal for a site close to the main Dundee-Aberdeen dual carriageway will go before councillors on Tuesday, but officials say that the scheme’s green energy contribution would be outweighted by unacceptable environmental and cumulative impacts.

The six turbines and associated infrastructure are planned for land north-west of Govals Farm, Kincaldrum, near Forfar, between one and 2.7 kilometres west of the main A90.

The site also includes the summits of Hayston Hill/Kincaldrum Hill, with the hamlet of Gateside around a kilometre to the north-east at the closest point.

The maximum blade tip height of the planned turbines is 87m, each with a generating capacity of up to 800kW. Planning permission has been sought on a permanent 25-year basis.

In the supporting submissions, applicant farmer David Cooper and Greencat Renewables have produced an extensive portfolio of material, including environmental and non-technical summaries.

The applicants have said that potential disruption to television signals for just over 200 homes has been identified but comment that a number of options are available to mitigate effects and have suggested conditioning as part of any planning approval.

Potential effects on radar at RAF Leuchars have also been part of the process and mitigation measures would, they add, be confirmed post-planning.

In visual terms, the applicants suggest that the project’s larger scale is “well accommodated by the landscape, with open valley to the east heavily characterised by the A90 and larger scale farming”.

The applicants conclude: “An extensive programme of environmental assessment has been carried out.

“No unacceptably adverse effects have been predicted and it is concluded that the project could be successfully accommodated into the local area.”

However, in his appraisal of the plan, Angus Council’s strategic director of communities Alan McKeown notes almost 100 letters of objection from 70 properties.

“Previous appeal decisions at Finavon Hill, Forfar, and Nether Kelly, Arbroath, have confirmed the opinion of reporters that large scale wind turbines are not appropriate in medium scale landscapes,” he said.

“The proposed windfarm would comply with some of the relevant policies and criteria contained within the development plan.

“However, this must be balanced against the findings of the significant and adverse landscape, cumulative landscape and adverse impacts identified in respect on the visual amenity of residents within a close proximity to the proposed development and from significant viewpoints and recreational amenities.”

Development standards councillors will meet in Forfar on Tuesday to consider the bid.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/05/13/hopes-for-rejection-of-angus-windfarm/