February 12, 2022
Scotland

Ayrshire Protestors to face Scottish Government reporter in bid to save Red Road

By Calum Corral, Senior Reporter | Largs and Millport Weekly News | www.largsandmillportnews.com

The Scottish Government reporter tasked with deciding whether a controversial wind farm in Largs should go ahead is to visit the site amid fears the development could wreck a treasured beauty spot.

Furious protestors have claimed erecting 10 giant wind turbines at Righill in the hills behind the town will cause irreversible damage to the iconic Red Road, pictured, nearby.

Community councillors told the News this week that a meeting has been pencilled in for the middle of the month to finalise a date for the inspection.

Burcote Wind, the firm behind the project to install the 150-metre tall turbines, want to widen the road to accommodate heavy goods vehicles required to transport the structures.

North Ayrshire Council planning committee unanimously rejected the wind farm development after it was found to breach 10 development policies.

However, Burcote immediately lodged an appeal with Scottish Ministers, despite 200 objections from the public – including all the surrounding community councils.

The matter was discussed at the recent Largs Community Council meeting.

Ian Dippie, who is the group’s environment spokesman, said: “The original date for the appeal was in December, then January 7 and now mid February.

“An invitation has gone out to various groups including ourselves to join the reporter on a site visit to the Red Road, and I have accepted it.

“It will not be a case of putting in additional information or discussing the application, it is to find out what uses local people make of the Red Road and why they have concerns about it being re-developed.”

Ian will be joined by fellow community councillor Margaret Wood.

If the decision to block the development is overturned, the famous local route would be widened to allow heavy plant and infrastructure to be delivered to the site by a convoy of vehicles.

Campaigners claim this would destroy it for future generations.

The local authority’s planning chairman Tom Marshall slammed the firm its ‘complete snub’ to local opinion.

He said: “”Parts of the road are to be be doubled in width to almost six metres, which is almost 20 feet.

“This work will devastate a well-used country road and will destroy habitats forever.

“The Red Road will be ruined for years to come if this goes ahead. Burcote have snubbed the opinion of the community.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2022/02/12/ayrshire-protestors-to-face-scottish-government-reporter-in-bid-to-save-red-road/