By Michael Alexander

A NEW storm was brewing in Fife last night as Scottish Power confirmed it is to appeal the decision of councillors who threw out plans for Fife’s first wind farm at Clatto Hill, The Courier can exclusively reveal.

If the appeal to the Executive is successful, it would mean Fife Council losing control of planning conditions it could have imposed if the application had been granted, and it is understood the council could face around £200,000 in legal costs if the appeal succeeds.

Last night a Scottish Power spokesman said it had decided to appeal as it felt it had done everything by the book during the planning process and, despite strong local opposition, objections had been minimal from the wider public or statutory consultees.

As pressure mounts for the Government to meet renewable energy targets over the next two decades, the spokesman said Clatto Hill had been identified as “the best and possibly the only” site for a medium-sized wind farm in Fife.

Scottish Power believed the two-year consultation process, in close conjunction with the public and Fife Council planning officials, had also gone “very well.”

Having agreed to reduce the number of proposed turbines from 21 to 17, the company had worked in stringent conditions embracing landscape, woodland, ecology, visual impact and recreation that it felt would have allowed the project to proceed with minimal impact on neighbouring residents.

At the end of this “painstaking” process, he said, there had been no objections from statutory bodies including Scottish Natural Heritage, SEPA or the RSPB. Fife planning officials had recommended approval and members of the environment and development committee had been expected to back the scheme when it came up for determination on November 1.

Scottish Power found it “difficult to understand,” therefore, why a significant majority of councillors backed the Labour motion to reject the proposal and it fell by 10 votes to six. Scottish Power also felt not enough weight had been given to the potential economic benefits the wind farm might bring to Fife.

Drawing comparisons with the similar-sized Cruach Mhor wind farm in Argyll, the Scottish Power spokesman said that development had brought a £5 million boost for local companies, involving 50 employees. He said there was potential for similar benefits from the Clatto wind farm in Fife.

The proposed Clatto wind farm community bond would have brought in £40,000 a year for 25 years to the community, the money to go to “worthy causes” determined by a committee.

The spokesman added, “We do acknowledge there was significant local and vocal opposition to the Clatto wind farm from immediate neighbours concerned about visual impact and amenity. However, there was also considerable support. When we conducted attitude surveys during public exhibitions in Fife, we found a ratio of 6-1 in favour of the proposed wind farm.

“Following Fife Council’s decision to reject the proposals, we have received a number of letters expressing dismay.

“We therefore find it difficult to understand how councillors got to this decision. We endeavoured to keep our consultation process in Fife, that was why we worked so locally, but things will now be taken away from local hands into those of the Scottish Executive.”

Scottish Power felt it had a strong case, the spokesman said. He maintained Clatto would be a “very good project” and it was still hoped it would help reach Government targets for 10% of energy in the UK to be from renewable sources by 2010 and 20% by 2020.

Last night Fife Council head of development services Keith Winter said, “I have yet to be advised that the applicant has appealed the council’s decision on Clatto Hill wind farm. If and when we receive appeal documentation from the company, the council will consider any appeal in accordance with our normal practices. As for likely costs, if the council were to defend the decision at a public inquiry, it is too early to discuss at this stage.”