August 26, 2014
Scotland

Forfar Golf Course wind turbine back on council agenda

26 August 2014 | www.thecourier.co.uk

Councillors are being asked to review a decision to refuse a proposal for a 250-foot wind turbine on Forfar Golf Course.

The development management review committee will discuss the issue at a meeting in Forfar following the refusal in June.

Developers behind the scheme, which divided the club membership, previously confirmed they intended to appeal the decision after expressing their double disappointment over the outcome of the bid and the length of time Angus Council took to determine the matter.

The company behind the proposal for the single turbine near the 10th hole of the Cunninghill course also said it was unhappy that the plan had been thrown out under delegated powers, denying them the chance to have their say to councillors.

In a decision released by the authority, officials said the turbine would have an unacceptable prominence in the landscape and would be too close to residential housing.

It would have reached 50 metres to hub and 77 metres to blade tip, and been capable of generating 500KW.

The refusal also said it would breach policies in terms of the “unacceptable and unjustified loss of a significant proportion of the existing woodland”, and criticised the applicant firm for failing to provide enough detail on issues such as landscape and visual impact.

The turbine plan was agreed at a general meeting of the golf club last September following an approach by Harrogate-based Harmony Energy.

However, the scheme split opinion, with some members warning there would be an exodus of players if the turbine was built to the south of the 10th hole.

Forfar Community Council also lodged an official objection to the plan on the grounds of the visual impact the structure would have.

There was support from some of the golf club membership and beyond for the scheme, which the club said was part of a drive to slash its energy bill.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/08/26/forfar-golf-course-wind-turbine-back-on-council-agenda/