July 5, 2013
Scotland

Kinross-shire residents urged to help blow away windfarm plans

Fife Today | 5 July 2013 | www.fifetoday.co.uk

People in Kinross-shire are being urged to oppose windfarm plans for up to 20 turbines that would dwarf the Forth Rail Bridge in size.

Two separate applications are due to be lodged with Fife Council this week for 11 turbines on Forestry Commission land at Blairadam and up to 10 on an adjoining site at Outh Muir.

At 380ft, the proposed turbines at Blairadam would be 50 feet taller than the rail bridge, while the Outh Muir turbines would be 30 feet taller.

The conservation watchdog Kinross-shire Civic Trust has reacted with horror and is calling an urgent meeting with local community councils, who they say have not been informed of the plans because they are situated outwith Fife.

“There is no mechanism for notification across county borders,” said Civic Trust chairman Alistair Smith.

“But both these wind power stations will be set at the top of the Cleish Hills and will have enormous visual impact across the whole of Kinross-shire which is gradually being surrounded by windfarms – but the visual impact of Blairadam and Outh Muir will be far more critical than any of them. It is vital that as many people as possible lodge their comments and objections to Fife Council.”

The company behind the Blairadam venture, Edinburgh-based Partnership for Renewables, has met with several west Fife community councils and have held exhibitions in Kelty and Saline. It says the income from the windfarm would help fund Forestry Commission Scotland projects and it is committed to maximising community benefits.

Applicants for the Outh Muir site, REG Windpower, have also held public exhibitions in west Fife with the promise that should the plans be approved, a community benefit fund would be set up to help pay for local environmental projects, youth projects, play equipment and floral displays. The company estimates the turbines would generate an income of over £62,000 annually.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/07/05/kinross-shire-residents-urged-to-help-blow-away-windfarm-plans/