August 30, 2015
Scotland

West Kilbride windfarm application to be knocked back?

Douglas Coulter | Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald | 29 Aug 2015 | www.ardrossanherald.com

Council planning officers have recommended an application to build a new windfarm near West Kilbride gets the thumbs down.

They say the application for six turbines at Blackshaw Farm by Community Windpower Limited (CWL) would have an adverse visual impact and be located in an area of ‘high sensitivity’.

It would also affect tourism and recreational interests as well as potentially causing a noise nuisance and the safety of aircraft.

The proposed turbines would have been 125m high with blades 101m in diameter.

Fifty-five letters objecting to the application were received by North Ayrshire Council including a petition of 66 signatures.

Fifty-seven letters of support were received, 51 of which were collected and submitted by the applicant CWL who currently operates the existing Dalry and Millour Hill community windfarms.

Signficantly, the development was also objected to by National Air Traffic Services, who operate air traffic control, and by Prestwick Airport on the grounds that it would have an unacceptable impact on airport radar and navigation systems.

Supporters pointed to the economic and environmental benefits of the scheme, however, these were outweighed by the negative environmental impacts.

The application was put before the Planning Committee last Wednesday, however, following a request by CWL for time to respond to some points in the council’s analysis a decision was deferred until the next meeting on Septemer 16.

A site visit by committee members prior to that meeting was also agreed.

CWL did not comment by the time we went to press.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/08/30/west-kilbride-windfarm-application-to-be-knocked-back/