By Neil MacPhail | Ross-shire Journal | 24 Jul 2022 | www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk
An Easter Ross community council is to object to what if approved would be the sixth wind farm for their area.
Ardross Community Council made the decision following a public consultation meeting earlier this month.
EnergieKontor (EK) are seeking planning permission for a “redesign” of the wind farm they propose for Strathrory in the hills north of Alness comprising seven turbines which would be higher than their previous application.
The community council was keen to hear as many views as possible before responding to Highland Council on the planning application.
Community council secretary John Edmondson said their objection reasons included that the turbines are too close to a lot of dwellings, they are too high, and air navigation warning lights on them would be “too intrusive in what is a fairly dark sky area.”
He added: “We have just had enough and we are fed up with it. This would be the sixth one we have in the area.
“One of the main issues was that people feel democracy is not working any more and whatever they say about this application it is just going to get rubber stamped by the Scottish Government.
“There was some talk about whether we should actually bother objecting, but in terms of planning the community is not in favour of this and we should object.”
It is proposed five of the seven turbines will have a maximum blade tip height of 180 metres and two will have have a blade tip height of 150 metres.
The application also includes battery energy storage system, access tracks, borrow pit, substation, control building, and ancillary infrastructure.
The site is mostly open moorland and it is proposes two tower lines will run parallel to each other in a southwest to northeast direction to the west of the B9176 and Morangie Forest.
The application states that all archaeological features have been assessed and avoided, and a minimum separation distance from residences is 2km.