Turbine firm’s pledge over ride-outs
Credit: Hawick News, www.hawick-news.co.uk 11 November 2011 ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
A proposed wind farm between Hawick and Bonchster which will potentially share land with three of the Cornet’s ride-outs, could be switched off in order to accommodate the horses.
That was one of the assurances given at a meeting of Hawick Community Council on Tuesday night during a presentation by representatives of Banks Renewables on its plans to erect up to 19 turbines at Birneyknowe – which will stand at 120 metres tall to the tip of their blades.
“We are right at the very beginning of looking at Birneyknowe as a potential project, and want to start talking to the community about the any local issues such as the ride-outs,” said development director Phil Dyke, in response to concern over the Common-Riding events raised by commmunity council chairman John Hope.
But Alistair Landles, development planner, gave a further guarantee, adding: “I think something could be arranged.”
The North East of England firm’s workers confirmed that they have already gained control of the area chosen for the project – on the edges of Kirkton and Hawthornside – with the land owners having been approached.
But Mr Dyke hinted that access to the area may prove controversial, stating: “We like the site and in terms of suitability, it has minor constraints and we have strong guidance that the landscape could be suitable for a well-designed scheme.
“But for a project such as this there are potential impacts and benefits. We have to look at transport to get turbines to the site and will be spending a bit of money looking at it.
“We think there will be a solution, but there will be impacts from that solution.”
Mr Dyke also pointed out that the company faces constraints imposed by the Ministry of Defence with a ban on turbines within 31 miles of the nuclear test monitoring station at Eskdalemuir.
But he stated: “The Eskdalemuir issue is a big issue, but we believe there are solutions in the pipeline.”
Early next year the company plans to submit a scoping report which will be sent to all consultees, asking which issues should be considered before they apply for planning permission.
Hawick-born development planner Mr Landles added: “It’s a good project, and we would like to see something which benefits the local community.
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
| Wind Watch relies entirely on User Funding |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=15358 ]
