April 19, 2018
Scotland

Highland council to defend refusing planning to wind farm due to ‘visual impact’

By Scott MacLennan | The Press and Journal | April 19, 2018 | www.pressandjournal.co.uk

Lawyers yesterday urged Highland Council to change its objections for its refusal of planning permission for a 19 turbine wind farm in Caithness.

The move followed the removal of the RSPB charity’s own objections to the development.

Now with the application due to be reviewed at an inquiry in Lybster, the council will base its decision solely on “visual impact grounds”.

The committee previously the wind farm application for Golticlay at a hearing in September 2017.

At the time it objected due to concerns over ruining the Caithness landscape for local residents and visitors as well as the potential impact on the local wildcat and osprey population highlighted by the RSPB.

But the charity now states that some of its concerns may be mitigated so the objection will have to be amended.

The council will lay out its reasons for opposing the application at an inquiry in Lybster on October 8.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/04/19/highland-council-to-defend-refusing-planning-to-wind-farm-due-to-visual-impact/