November 8, 2016
Scotland

Concerns raised over plans for wind turbine in Strichen

By Jamie Ross | The Press and Journal | 8 November 2016 | www.pressandjournal.co.uk

A community group is facing a battle to erect a turbine on the outskirts of a north-east village.

Fraserburgh Development Trust is seeking planning permission to build the 249ft structure on land at Howford Farm in Strichen, to support local projects.

It is proposed that up to 20% of the profits would be injected into local initiatives and money would also be paid to the farm’s owners to ensure the continuation of work to develop a garden centre for people with learning disabilities.

However, objections have been lodged to the scheme by the Joint Radio Company and the air traffic service Nats.

The trust’s manager Mark Jackson has claimed the turbine would be a “real community asset” and argued it would allow the group to provide funding to a range of projects across the north-east.

He added: “Many people may already be aware of some of the work undertaken by the trust, such as Fraserburgh Super Saturdays, a blossoming community garden, and the sports hub.

“The trust is a charity that operates within both Fraserburgh and the AB43 postcode area and any surplus revenue from the turbine would be used to develop grassroots-focused projects across this area.

“There would also be a community fund established for the village of Strichen. This would be administered by residents within the village.”

However, the JRC, which monitors radio wave interference for energy companies in the UK, has countered with their belief that the turbine could cause problems with equipment.

In a letter to the council, Nats added that radar systems could also be affected by the amenity.

The correspondence stated: “This development is likely to cause false primary plots to be generated.

“A reduction in the radar’s probability of detection, for real aircraft, is also anticipated.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/11/08/concerns-raised-over-plans-for-wind-turbine-in-strichen/