July 31, 2013
Scotland

Wind farm group has another fight on its hands

30 July 2013 | www.deesidepiper.co.uk

A Donside anti-wind farm campaign group saw their celebrations cut short after a fourth application for turbines was made on a controversial site.

The Stop Turbines in Cushnie group were toasting Aberdeenshire Councillors after they unanimously rejected an application for a single 45.9 m turbine at Bogfern at the last meeting of the Marr Area Committee.

But now the group is planning to fight again after a fourth application has been launched to build turbines on Blackhills, on the slopes of Pressendye by energy firm Renewable Energy Ventures Ltd.

The company was set up by former deputy first minister Lord Nicol Stephen after his retirement from Holyrood.

Planning officers had to return the application the first two times because of “factual inaccuracies” in environmental statements.

Councillors rejected a third bid last year.

Linda van Weereld of the group said: “We were delighted by the outcome (of the Bogfern application)… but it is extremely disappointing to see a fourth application made for the Blackhills site. It shows a total disregard for the views of the residents… let’s just say we were astonished.”

Lord Nicol Stephen did not respond to the Piper’s request for comment.

All comments must be in to Aberdeenshire Council by 5pm on Monday, August 29.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/07/31/wind-farm-group-has-another-fight-on-its-hands/