June 6, 2016
Scotland

Arbroath turbine saga continues after Bairds Malt appeal

By Graeme Strachan | The Courier | June 6, 2016 | www.thecourier.co.uk

A malt giant has launched an appeal over the refusal of their proposed wind turbine in Arbroath which it was claimed would “adversely affect” the town’s historic Abbey.

Richard Broadbent, technical director at Bairds Malt, said the company believes it has “a strong appeal case”.

The proposed wind turbine at the Bairds Malt plant in Arbroath was refused by Angus Council under delegated powers following 141 letters of objection.

The reasons given for refusal were primarily residential amenity and landscape and visual impacts.

The appeal will be heard by the internal council Development Management Review Committee over the coming weeks after the appeal was submitted by Bairds Malt and Kilmac.

Bairds Malt has worked closely with Angus Council and has consistently refuted the council’s view on potential adverse landscape, visual and cumulative effects of the turbine, with this fundamental disagreement forming the basis of the appeal.

Mr Broadbent said: “We were disappointed by the refusal in March and do not agree with the council’s interpretation of our application, in particular the concerns raised by the council’s landscape officer.

“Our studies show that there will be no significant landscape effects and while there will unavoidably be visual impacts from the development, our assessments do not deem these to be at unacceptable levels.

“We also believe that the current industrial setting of the site was not given sufficient weighting in the council’s original decision.

“Bairds Malt brings significant investment into the local community and provides employment for many families in the area.

“Our proposed turbine would enable us to significantly reduce our costs, allowing us to maintain our level of business and remain competitive in an increasingly challenging marketplace.

“The refusal did not recognise the potential for growth in the local economy and how the development would be a genuine benefit to the local community.

“We remain committed to delivering job security for our employees through this development and believe that we have a strong appeal case.

“We are confident that the committee will recognise the technical merits of, and the economic opportunities created by, our proposals.”

The proposed single turbine would have been on the south-west corner of their site, with a height of 55 metres to its hub and 77 metres to tip, and would be partially screened by buildings.

A report by Angus Council’s countryside officer Stewart Roberts claimed a proposed wind turbine would adversely affect the setting of Arbroath and historic landmarks such as its historic abbey.

The damning report also stated that the single turbine at Bairds Malt on Elliot Industrial Estate would “dominate houses and have an overbearing effect.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/06/06/arbroath-turbine-saga-continues-after-bairds-malt-appeal/