| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Campaigners to fight Perthshire windfarm proposal
Credit: By Jamie Buchan | The Courier | 2 November 2015 | www.thecourier.co.uk ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Anti-windfarm campaigners are preparing to fight plans for a major turbine development in western Perthshire.
Wind energy specialist Green Cat Renewables has tabled a bid to build nine towers – each taller than the Wallace monument – on land between Comrie and Braco.
A proposal for four turbines at the same site was rejected by councillors eight years ago, amid fears it could have a harmful impact on the landscape.
In its application, the developer says the visual impact of the new Strathallan Windfarm plan will be “broadly similar to the previously proposed four-turbine scheme”.
A spokesman added: “However, the new proposal more than doubles the potential electrical generation capacity.
“It is felt that this strikes a better planning balance between the benefits and impacts of the scheme.”
Opponents are mobilising to block the development. Residents have launched the Say No to Strathallan Windfarm action group to drum up support for their fight.
George Watterson, who chairs the Greenscares Environmental Action Group, which is leading the campaign, urged opponents to lodge their objections with Perth and Kinross Council planners.
“There is a great deal of anxiety in the local and surrounding area about this application,” he said.
“It has been dragging on for so long, I’m sure people have forgotten all about it and probably think it is not going to happen.”
The group’s website states that the Strathallan plan could hit the area’s crucial tourism industry.
“Tourism is an extremely important part of the Perthshire economy and tourists come to see its natural beauty and tranquillity, and not a landscape that is becoming more and more industrial-like,” a spokesman for the group said. “If this natural beauty continues to be compromised then tourists will go elsewhere.”
There are also concerns that the 305ft turbines could affect local wildlife, including red kites, osprey, hen harriers, deer and red squirrels.
In its design statement, Green Cat Renewables said the scheme has been designed in line with best practice guidelines. “As a nine-turbine scheme, as opposed to a four-turbine scheme, it is definitively a windfarm as opposed to a wind cluster, which is keeping with the pattern of development within this part of Perthshire.”
All public feedback must be lodged with the council by November 19 and the application is due to be considered by councillors in the coming months.
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
| Wind Watch relies entirely on User Funding |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=74449 ]
