Fresh plans for major wind farm
Gary Fitzpatrick • Published 27 Sep 2012 12:45
2 Comments
VILLAGERS in Saline will find out more about the latest plans for a major wind farm in the area, two years after a similar proposal was booted out.
REG Windpower want to build up to eight turbines measuring up to 115 metres from base to blade tip at Outh Muir, north-east of Knockhill Racing Circuit.
A previous plan to build a wind farm near Saline was rejected by councillors in 2010 after a fierce local campaign.
Public exhibitions to outline the REG Windpower plans will take place next Thursday at Saline Community Centre from 12-8pm, on Friday (5th October) at Carnock and Gowkhall Community Centre from 12-8pm and on Saturday (6th) at Oakley Community Centre from 10am to 6pm.
Feedback from community events plus additional consultation will help shape the company's planning application, expected to be submitted in 2013.
The developer has already met some community councils and a leaflet has been delivered to householders and local businesses with details of the initial events.
Visitors will have the chance to quiz project staff and Jim Wood, development manager for REG Windpower, said, "The plans are at an early stage and we are keen to hear from local communities on both the project and how community benefit can best meet local needs.
"We think Outh Muir is an excellent site to generate renewable electricity while minimising the effects on the local environment and recreational use of the surrounding area - but we want to hear the opinion of people in the area and we'll be working very hard to ensure that this project is very carefully and sensitively designed.
"As well as holding two rounds of events - one in October, one next year - we will be out and about meeting as many people."
John Crane, vice chair of Saline and Steelend Community Council, said, "We seem to be getting these plans coming thick and fast. We'll go along and see what they have to say before coming to any decision over the plans."
A previous application by another company, ABO Wind Ltd, resulted in a group being set up to fight the plans, Saline Communities Against These Turbines (SCATT).
Around 60 campaigners burst into applause at Inverkeithing's Civic Centre when members of the South West Fife area committee rejected the scheme unanimously in February 2010.
They agreed with a Fife Council report that said the five huge turbines based just two kilometres away from 200 houses would have had an adverse effect on the landscape and appearance of the area, people's health and even cause problems for Edinburgh Airport, with the turbines being visible on their radar.
The group had campaigned against the proposal, garnering support from PM Gordon Brown, local MP Willie Rennie, all local community councils and highlighting 282 individual objections to the scheme.
This article appeared in Dunfermline Press 27 Sep 12
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
-
feral07
6 posts
Sep 27, 13:15
Report commentThe countryside is looking nasty now. I take my dogs up to Glendevon a few times a year to enjoy the quiet and the beauty of the place. Seeing these monstrosities on the skyline is nasty. They don't blend in not one bit. If you get near them the make some noise my husband and I walked up to them with dogs. Put them out to sea where no one can see them. I agree we need another source of power but surely not to the point of ruining the countryside.
Recommend?
Yes 15
No 10
-
Chromedome
17 posts
Sep 30, 16:42
Report commentEvery time wind generators are mentioned there's the usual cry of "they're ugly" It would be interesting to see if the same people who utter this opinion share a common view on windmills in Norfolk or Holland, where these abound to pump water/drain land, and in other areas where they are used to produce flour or drive a forge trip hammer. Are the old design windmills considered pretty and more acceptable (many people say this) just because they're old (and less efficient)?
Generating power is no less industrial than the uses mentioned before, but somehow chocolate box lids don't seem to feature the modern ones.
On a personal note, I think wind generators are rather beautiful. OK.... so at the moment they aren't the most efficient sources of energy, but we will have to start diversifying power production somewhere.
Recommend? Yes 3
No 2
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
