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Furious locals hit out at plans to build wind turbine twice the size of the Statue of Liberty at Scots beauty spot
Credit: Harry Williamson | Published: 18 Dec 2023 | thescottishsun.co.uk ~~
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Translate: FROM English | TO English
Fuming locals have hit out at plans to build the UK’s highest wind farm at a popular beauty spot.
Plans have been lodged for 16 turbines to be built on top of Hill of Fare on the Dunecht Estate in picturesque Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire.
The mammoth turbines will be twice the size of the Statue of Liberty
The turbines would be developed by Renewable energy firm RES.
Campaigners say the mammoth machines are set to be 200m tall – twice the height of the Statue of Liberty – and bigger than the Kelpies and Big Ben.
The project would be one of the highest wind farms in the UK, sitting over 450m above sea level.
Locals opposed to the turbines have claimed it will blight the stunning landscape and be visible from the Moray coast.
Fears have also been raised that the windfarm could harm animal habitats and heritage sites on the hill.
Activists have formed the Nae Fare group to campaign against the turbines and have called for more people to object to the plans.
They attended local meetings about the issue and claimed around 75 per cent of residents attending were opposed to the idea of the wind farm.
The spokesperson for Nae Fare, David Smith, said: “These monster turbines will be set atop the Hill of Fare which stand 460m above sea level; they will blight the landscape for miles and for many communities.
“Nae Fare is a passionate community of individuals, living locally, unlike the landowner of the Dunecht Estate who lives and works in southeast England, dedicated to safeguarding the Hill of Fare and its stunning surroundings.
“We believe in the importance of responsible, sustainable energy generation but are deeply concerned about the potential negative impact of the proposed wind turbines on this unique and unspoiled natural habitat.”
They also said the windfarm would be in a neighbourhood with a higher population than similar windfarms elsewhere in the UK.
And claimed over 120 homes plus businesses and farms on the Hill depend on its spring water for their water supply could be impacted.
The group has called for the idea to be ditched and the windfarm to be located offshore instead.
A statement from the group read: “Not only will these wind turbines be imposed on those living in the area by an absentee landlord who lives in the Southeast of England but would be directly against the Aberdeenshire Plan to reserve this location for domestic scale renewables.”
Mr Smith added: “At a time when we have already met out national onshore wind targets, this development will give no incremental benefit and will rip the heart from a place of natural beauty forever.
“Surely these turbines belong offshore rather than blighting the lives of Aberdeenshire residents?”
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