Clatto Hill wind farm plans attract letters of support
A campaign of support has been launched for proposals to construct wind turbines on the slopes of a hill in north-east Fife.
Clatto Hills, which is the subject of wind farm applications.
- By Cheryl Peebles
- Published in the Courier : 23.02.11
- Published online : 23.02.11 @ 04.21pm
Wind power firm West Coast Energy is bidding to erect seven 120-metre turbines on the south of Clatto Hill, between Kettle and Kennoway. Meanwhile, farmer Douglas Rennie is seeking the green light for three 100-metre turbines on the western hillside.
While the proposals, announced last summer, met an initial wall of objections, letters of support for the West Coast Energy scheme have been sent to the Fife Council offices.
One supporter, Joanne Irvine of Leven, voiced her strong backing.
She wrote, "Reliance on techniques of power generation that produce particulates that circulate in the air and lungs of our citizens is a nonsense. Wind farms are a perfectly viable option, reducing the pollution we spill into the atmosphere. This decision doesn't just affect those that write in opposition — it affects us all."
Buckhaven man Duncan Campbell told council planners, "Future generations will have to live with the decision we make. Wind power in many cases is a tourist attraction in its own right. Do not assume that these turbines will have a detrimental impact on our tourist industry."
Calling wind turbines the Concorde of the modern, environmentally-conscious world, Mr N. Goddard, of Kirkcaldy, said, "Building wind farms is not just about the next five years, but the next 100 years. We need to start to redress some of the damage we have caused to the planet for the sake of the next generation."
Sean Martin, of Kennoway, wrote, "If we don't begin to switch to clean forms of energy, our countryside will definitely suffer — there's no point in putting our heads in the sand or coming up with numerous reasons why this is not the right place for a wind farm."
Silent majority
Stressing the importance of the positioning of wind farms, Methil correspondent Janice Munro said that developers had worked hard in this case to come up with a solution that balanced the needs of the community with the need for green energy.
"I sincerely hope Fife Council acts on the views of the largely silent majority and approves this application without delay."
Objectors, including campaign group Clatto Landscape Protection Group and Clatto Community Woodlands, fear the wind farms will be detrimental to the landscape, quality of life for nearby residents and leisure use of the surrounding woodlands.
And whereas the Ministry of Defence has raised concerns about potential interference with the radars at RAF Leuchars from the smaller wind turbines, the MoD has raised no objection to West Coast Energy's proposals.
Fife Council has already secured an extension for the deadline on determining West Coast Energy's planning application until June. It is hoping to secure a similar extension for Mr Rennie's application for three turbines.
Add a comment