Campaign group backs councillor's call for Fife to stop and think about its windfarm future
Calls for a moratorium on wind turbine applications in Fife have been backed by a campaign group.
Members of the Clatto Landscape Protection Group (CLPG) have branded the number of proposals in the pipeline as ''frightening''.
Earlier this month Fife Council's opposition leader Alex Rowley wrote to local authority chiefs, demanding an investigation into the situation (link).
He insisted no more applications should be approved until a ''strategic framework'' for such developments is put in place. Mr Rowley also called for a ''community-led'' discussion on the issue.
Now members of CLPG — currently battling proposals for two windfarms in Fife — have backed the senior councillor's calls.
Group chairman Greg Brown said: ''The number of applications in the pipeline now is frightening. A pause is definitely needed to rethink things.''
Mr Brown warned that mistakes had already been made.
''In a recent decision to allow eight giant turbines to be built at Earlseat, the council's planning committee showed scant regard for the interests of several communities very close by.
''It poses a horrendous prospect for many communities round Fife, when planning safeguards are virtually ignored like this.''
Mr Brown said CLPG was one of a growing number of community groups in Fife resisting pressure to accept ''industrial scale'' turbines on their doorsteps.
''It is not only residential amenity that is threatened in Fife,'' he continued. ''It is the landscape, environment and our vitally important tourist industry.''
CLPG members fear systemic failures in the planning process could ultimately have a devastating impact on Scotland.
''There is no doubt that the extensive subsidies for onshore wind attracts 'get-rich-quick' developers,'' Mr Brown said. ''They often care nothing for the cost to local communities, nor do they care for the fuel poverty problems exacerbated because the subsidies come form our electricity bills.
''We need a proper community input into what is going on and not the lip- service experienced so far.''
09.04pm - 29.12.2011 Trafalgar - Fife, United Kingdom Report This
It is the very same in Moray,, the SNP Government's Fergus Ewing, is ignoring all calls for moderation with these ugly looking things. There is massive opposition across Scotland against windfarms!! Why wont you listen Ewing???
09.14am - 30.12.2011 Eoin Ryan - Glenrothes, Scotland Report This
Labour only jump on bandwagons. The Council only recently approved Guidance on Wind Farms. Labour behind the times and possibly breaking the Cllrs Code of Conduct! Serious stuff!
11.01am - 03.01.2012 Sarah - Lochgelly, Scotland Report This
The Council guidelines on wind farms is a step in the right direction, but unfortunately still way behind the times as turbines are developing much faster with new issues arising all the time. For instance the guidelines still do not require wind developers to test for Low Frequency Noise pollution
07.31pm - 03.01.2012 Trafalgar - Fife, United Kingdom Report This
This so called SNP Scottish Government has a fleet of 208 official cars. Only 28 of these cars are "green" cars, the rest are the usual gas guzzling, fume emitting, taxpayer funded cars,, yet we have this 2 faced lot forcing the "green this", and the "green that" on us while doing the exact opposite
11.31am - 04.01.2012 Disgruntled - Kirkcaldy, Scotland Report This
Sarah, if you read the Scottish Gov's policies on 'planning & noise', their guidance for onshore wind turbines and the UK gov's guidance, you will see there is no need to test for low frequency noise pollution as there is a report from Salford University stating there is no issue with it.
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