Wind farm opponent films YouTube retort to Newburgh Community Trust
Newburgh's YouTube wind farm war has intensified, with claims of "personal vilification."
A still frame from Jock Ferguson's YouTube film.
- By Aileen Robertson
- Published in the Courier : 20.07.11
- Published online : 20.07.11 @ 03.41pm
What started as a proposal for three wind turbines at Lindores Farm has descended into a bitter row that has split the community.
Newburgh Community Trust (NCT), who are behind the proposal, took their campaign for the wind farm online with a YouTube video titled Newburgh Community Trust and the Wind Farm.
However, there is a growing campaign against the plans led by actor Jock Ferguson, who lives in the village. Mr Ferguson has made his own YouTube video called Newburgh Community Trust and the Wind Farm Scam, which was viewed more than 200 times just four days after it was posted.
During the film, Mr Ferguson describes the plans for the turbines as a threat to the local landscape. He claims, "The beauty of the town is threatened, not by nature but by a self-elected group of individuals with one agenda — money.
"Lindores Hill is just 200 metres high yet there are highly motivated people who would situate three 100 metre turbines atop it for just one reason — money.
"Having already lost a hill to quarrying, a tiny minority seek to industrialise this local landmark. These people are Newburgh Community Trust — unelected and representing only themselves."
The film also launches a personal attack on Councillor Andrew Arbuckle. In his voiceover, Mr Ferguson claims there is a conflict of interest and alleges that Mr Arbuckle, who chairs Fife Council's north east area committee, is not neutral because his neighbour runs the main contractor Ecodyn and he is a "good friend" of the farmer, who would be set to gain financially if the wind farm was given the go-ahead.
Mr Ferguson adds, "NCT are desperate to see this through, to the point of producing a short form for people to sign, pledging support and submitted to Fife Council via Councillor Arbuckle. Nowhere does this form talk of energy, the environment or conservation. It is about money."
Mr Arbuckle has defended himself on Fife Council's planning website.
In his "neutral" comment on the plans he stated he has played no part in the decision-making process and could back this up by referring to the minutes of the north-east Fife area committee meeting of May 11.
He said, "I am sorry that some representations on this application are now based on misinformation and personal vilification. This is a site specifically for putting views either for or against the application. If used in this way it is intended to help influence the councillors who will make the decision.
"Because I am chairman of the Newburgh Community Trust I will play no part in the decision. Any inference I have a conflict of interest is incorrect.
"It is also necessary to correct misinformation on the role of Duncan Oswald and Ecodyn. He is a member of NCT but his company won the contract to manage the application through competitive tender. His company does not put up windmills.
"Although it is not part of the planning consideration, there is a legal agreement with the landowner and if the project goes ahead, he will receive a percentage of the income but the much larger share would be for the benefit of those living in the area.
"Please do not let the opportunity to express views on the application degenerate into name calling and mud slinging."
Around 45 objections and 150 supporting comments could be seen on the council's online planning portal yesterday.
Emotions have been running high online, with both The Courier website and YouTube inundated with comments.
08.09am - 21.07.2011 Savenewburgh - Newburgh, UK Report This
NCT seek to mislead the public with dodgy newsletter and a website that ignores totally the Scottish Naural Heritage who hate their plans. You cannot continue to state 'no adverse issues or impacts were identified' check their site. By the way the first pic is Ormiston hill not the lovely Lindores.
09.52am - 21.07.2011 Loki - Newburgh, Scotland Report This
Hard to say which video is the more damaging to NCT's cause. An own goal must be bad for morale.
10.36am - 21.07.2011 Fedupofthis - Newburgh, UK Report This
This whole plan is just daft. The countryside in that area is glorious and if you look at the photomontages of the turbines they are awful. It would be a sorry day if Fife Council allowed these people to ruin this area. I note that NCT still ignore SNH who think it is a potential landscape disaster.
10.43am - 21.07.2011 bearwithasorehead - Newburgh, scotland Report This
This isn't war it's a simple case of right and wrong and to me NCT are clearly in the wrong.Please look at the facts and stand up for what is right.Don't blindly "jump on the bandwagon" or let them treat you like fools.Head over to fife planning and make your feelings known.
11.11am - 21.07.2011 newburghwindfarm.wordpress.com - Newburgh, Fife Report This
I am glad to see this open for comments as last night it seemed closed. We can't be having the democratic right of free speech and comment on public issues or public office being crushed. Video really seems to raise the concerns that many have about this project.
11.17am - 21.07.2011 Stephen - Newburgh, Fife Report This
Sigh. The old "money" argument again. Agreed some parties will make money out of this, but the same can be said for building new supermarkets, schools, nuclear power stations, roads, hospitals etc. What an utter bore!
11.41am - 21.07.2011 Stuart Allan - Dundee, Scotland Report This
The problem with the photomontages put up by the anti's on their website is that they completely misrepresent where the turbines will be situated. One is placed well over 1km from where it will actually go. The images do not represent reality.
12.47pm - 21.07.2011 bearwithasorehead - Newburgh, scotland Report This
This is not war,it's a simple case of right and wrong and i believe NCT are clearly in the wrong.Look at the facts,don't just blindly "jump on the bandwagon" or let them treat you like fools.Stand up for whats right,head over to fife planning website and make your feelings known.
01.17pm - 21.07.2011 Nick - Newburgh, UK Report This
The applicants photomontages were described as poor by SNH over 1 year ago ago and they still have problems with a turbine being wrongly sited. I think you've confused the applicant and objectors here as I don't think the latter have attempted proper photomontages.
01.44pm - 21.07.2011 bearwithasorehead - Newburgh, scotland Report This
@Stuart Allan the photo you mention was created by myself.I clearly state that the image was made to convey the scale of the turbines.I made no claim of accuracy in terms of positioning.The other mock up is taking from the NCT so your beef lies with then not the "anti's"
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