Perth and Kinross planning chief intervenes to register Newburgh windfarm concerns
The furious windfarm row which has divided a Fife town has escalated after a neighbouring local authority waded in.
For months, residents of Newburgh have been at loggerheads over proposals to create a "community windfarm" on local land.
Now Perth and Kinross Council has entered the debate, expressing "strong concern" about the plan.
Community representatives sparked a storm of controversy after lodging plans to site three 100 metre turbines on Lindores Hill. Rival videos have appeared on YouTube and countless bitter, sometimes personal, attacks have been exchanged.
The debate has become so ugly in recent months that Fife Police warned detectives were monitoring websites and chatrooms in a bid to ensure the acrimonious row does not cross legal boundaries.
Further fuel has now been poured on the fire by council chiefs in Perth and Kinross. In a strongly worded letter to his counterparts in Fife, development quality manager Nick Brian claims the turbines would have a devastating impact on the landscape. He also warns that they would be visible across the Tay in the Carse of Gowrie.
Mr Brian notes, "The council (Perth and Kinross) was not to my knowledge formally consulted as an affected neighbouring authority following the submission of this planning application. Notwithstanding this, Perth and Kinross Council wishes to raise strong concerns about this proposal because of the nature of the development and location of the site."
Mr Brian points out that the site lies within an area of "great landscape value."
"There should be a strong presumption against wind turbine developments within such formally designated areas," he said. "The medium and longer range views of the north Fife hills will, from many points, be adversely affected to a significant extent.
'Clearly seen'
"The turbines will be clearly seen from a wide area to the north of Newburgh, particularly along the Tay Estuary and also from the Carse of Gowrie. They will be visible from at least five historic gardens and designated landscapes within Perth and Kinross."
Mr Brian warned there would be "a cumulative visual impact" when viewed from the Carse of Gowrie due to the construction of the Lochelbank windfarm.
Potential difficulties on roads have also been flagged up.
"In terms of the potential impact from traffic, Perth and Kinross Council would wish to be satisfied that the impacts of construction traffic in terms of mitigation had been fully addressed and the appropriate controls/|restrictions imposed should consent be given," he said.
Mr Brian adds that he hopes his comments will be "of assistance" when Fife Council comes to consider the highly contentious application.
Meanwhile, two local community councils — Creich and Flisk, and Abdie and Dunbog — have added their objections.
"Abdie and Dunbog community council ... is particularly concerned about the negative comments made by Scottish Natural Heritage (the body warned of a substantial adverse impact on the local landscape)," chairman Tim Tobin wrote in a submission.
"We feel that, due to the scale of the project and the fact that the visual impact of the turbines will be as significant in Abdie and Dunbog as it will be in Newburgh, more extensive consultation should be carried out in our community, something that has not been done.
"We would especially request that photo montages be produced to show the effect on the small local communities of Glenduckie, Dunbog and Ayton."
Supporters of the scheme insist it will eventually be worth £1 million a year to the town.
09.17pm - 18.08.2011 R.D.Robertson - Freuchie, Scotland Report This
Three turbines hardly constitutes a 'farm'. As usual the NIMBYs are out in force blowing everything out of all proportion. Would they rather live next to a coal fired power station or a nuke plant? Its going to come to that if the NIMBYs get their way.
09.19pm - 18.08.2011 Jock ferguson - Newburgh, Scotland Report This
As the vernacular has it, 'NCT - you've been rumbled'. Let's see Councillor Arbuckle wriggle out of this.
09.54pm - 18.08.2011 Jock Ferguson - Newburgh, Scotland Report This
The foolish argument of power stations and nuclear plants built on Lindores Hill appears once more. NCT call it a 'wind farm' and it breaches all sorts of guidelines. Allowing this would be a political disaster for Fife Council.
10.24pm - 18.08.2011 Charles Wardrop - Perth, Scotland, UK. Report This
The visual and road traffic impacts, along with the fraudulent basis of the installation of industrial green tokenism objects has to be seen in the light of the functionally near-useless electricity generation, in total amount and timing. ALL renewables installations must now stop, at once.
10.32pm - 18.08.2011 Jim Aitken - Grange of Lindores , Scotland Report This
they are buildng them in the wrong place , why not up at the ''Red Mire '' they would not be visible by anyone there , on ''The Bear Hill '' they will be seen probably not from many houses in Newburgh but what about Grange of Lindores , Lindores and Dunbog , erroll etc on the Perth - Dundee Road
10.53pm - 18.08.2011 Jim Aitken - Grange of Lindores, Scotland Report This
If they are going to build a windfarm near Newburgh , it should not be a conspicious as Lindores Hill , and why only 3 , lets have 33 or 333 , what about Mugdrum Island , smack bang in the middle o the river and all those residents who are going to benefit can sit back and watch the money rolling i
10.54pm - 18.08.2011 Nick - Newburgh, UK Report This
Ridiculous plan. Ought to have been strangled early on. Would devastate prime countryside and the Tay. It will be refused. As for Mr Roberston's comments then tell us one power station closed down since this scam began. Errr....that'll be none! Mainly takes £ from the poor and gives it to the rich!
11.40pm - 18.08.2011 Sam - Fife, Scotland Report This
@ Jock A mickey mouse NCT pales against the bigger picture of an SNP government desperate to ruin our landscape on their pet project. Oh how we were warned.
12.44am - 19.08.2011 kevinreilly - newburgh, fife Report This
jim aitkin the wind blows more on hills than it does in glens as far as im aware you also live in ky14, as i do, you will benefit from them to exactly the same extent as those 1 mile away in newburgh. the turbines are also yours??
09.14am - 19.08.2011 Stephen - Newburgh, Fife Report This
A devastating visual impact? Just like the Tay Bridge, Ninewells hospital, all the multis in Dundee? These things are needed because of growing population. How many of you objectors have only one child?? Resources are running out. Yes to wind turbines!
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