Protest group seeks information on Clatto wind farm plans
An environment group that successfully fought plans for a wind farm on a Fife hill is arming itself with information as the site is eyed again for turbines.
- By Cheryl Peebles
- Published in the Courier : 26.07.10
- Published online : 26.07.10 @ 01.27pm
Clatto Landscape Protection Group stood against Scottish Power several years ago when it wanted to install 17 turbines at Clatto Hill, and eventually the power firm withdrew.
There are two new attempts to site wind farms at the hill, between Kingskettle and Kennoway, which between them would see 10 turbines of 120 metres and 100 metres in height.
Group chairman Greg Brown told The Courier it was doing homework before its formal submissions to Fife Council on the two planning applications.
While the group has confirmed it will fight the three-turbine proposal by Clatto farmer Douglas Rennie — driven by renewable energy consultancy Green Cat Renewables — it is yet to take a stance on East Fife Wind Energy's plans for seven turbines as it is awaiting environmental data.
Mr Brown said, "We are trying to be very careful about assembling all the information. We have decided to oppose the Green Cat proposals and are working on the details of our reasons why.
"The gaps in the information are extensive. Having studied it in detail and sounding out opinion, we felt there were very good grounds to object."
Of the East Fife Wind Energy bid, however, he said, "We are waiting until we have the environmental statement. "They have been very helpful in giving us turbine locations to help us start getting our heads round things and gathering our own information.
"We want to see their environmental statement, their justifications and evidence, and compare those with our own information."
The group has already made a comparison between the Clatto plans and the Earlsburn wind farm in Stirlingshire, which is said to be similar in the turbine height and distance from people's homes, and has also commissioned a noise consultant.
Mr Brown said confusion about the wind farm plans — which many people incorrectly believe Scottish Power is behind — needs to be eliminated.
He has asked Fife Council to write to residents in the area and other people concerned to clarify the applicants' identities.
Photo courtesy of Stewart Lloyd-Jones.
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