FIFE COUNCIL are holding a public information event to discuss the possibility of installing 11 wind turbines around West Fife.

The council’s sustainability manager, Chris Ewing, said the event would be held at Dunfermline’s Carnegie Hall between 3.30pm and 6.30pm, on 11th March, to give residents the chance to find out why the council is considering wind power, where the sites could be, and to provide information about wind turbines in general.

The sites were previously named by Phenix Renweable Energy who identified 25 potential locations across Fife as ‘primary sites’ for turbines with a development cost of £10.5million.

The “informal drop-in exhibition” will now mark the start of the council’s “engagement” with local people about the developments which are still “at a very early stage”.

Maps will be provided as well as staff to answer any questions before any feedback is reported to councillors at the area committee.

The council is currently considering plans to install three 45.5m (150ft) turbines at Pitreavie sports ground, Dunfermline Public Park and Halbeath Park And Ride.

Another three measuring 34.6m (113ft) could be placed at Aberdour Primary School, St Columba’s High School and Camdean Primary School while the remaining five, measuring 26.55m (87ft), may be built at Ballast Bank sports pavilion, Paton Street Park, Inverkeithing High School, land to the west of Park Road Primary School and land to the east of South Avenue, in Blairhall.

However, the plans have also come under attack from groups such as Scotland Against Spin (SAS) who have previously said the council was “throwing money at a scam which promises a quick buck”.

Bellyeoman Community Council, which has been invited to the drop-in, said it was would be “viewing all the facts”.

Community councillor, Graeme Whyte, told the Press, “At the moment as a community council we are viewing all the facts about the proposals and we want to reflect the views of the people in the area – they are quite mixed and some people think turbines are great but we do get the other side of the coin of people that might have looked at it more deeply and realise that they may be too close to homes and they could be noisy and cause shadow flicker.

“Fife Council are proposing to spend all these millions on it when the company proposing to put it up have no commercial backing but I’m sure that will all come out in the wash out.

“That’s one of the concerns – local residents might have to suffer these and it maybe a white elephant that may end up costing more money in the long run, for example the turbine at Dunfermline High School has not saved very much money at all but it’s cost a lot so we want to look at all the facts and make sure the council hear the views of the people.

He added “I would encourage people to come along to the event and also community council meetings to find out more information.”