By Cheryl Wood

A PROTEST group set up to fight some of the large-scale housing developments planned for Fife has spoken out against plans for a wind farm near Ceres.

Protect Rural East Fife (PREF) said it objected in the strongest terms to the erection of five turbines on the hillside at Gathercauld, 1.9km from the conservation village.

Letters of objection have been flooding into Fife Council’s planning offices to the proposals by wind power firm EnergieKontor UK, which is also behind the possible creation of a wind farm at Auchtermuchty.

PREF said the erection of “gigantic” 80-metre-high turbines in a designated Area of Great Landscape Value was unwelcome and against the approved policies of structure and local plans.

Chairman Paul Strachan said, “The proposed development would dominate the skyline and may be visible from a wide area of Fife and Dundee, including the A91 main tourist route between Dairsie and Cupar, the B939 and A915.

“In our opinion the development would be overly intrusive and the character of the area would be degraded from a natural scenic landscape to a standard industrialised landscape.

“Furthermore, the amenity of local residents would be degraded and drivers would be faced with a major distraction.”

He warned that the development—for which a planning application was lodged in June—could harm the local economy.

He said, “Tourism is an important generator for the economy, particularly in rural east Fife, and we are concerned that this development may have an adverse effect on the economy.”

PREF also urged Fife Council to consider Scottish Natural Heritage recommendations that consideration be given to steering wind farms towards shallow bowls, valleys and areas already affected by masts, roads or forestry.

It voiced fears that the wind farm would have an adverse impact on the Hill of Tarvit Mansion House and Gardens near Cupar, a concern already highlighted by the National Trust for Scotland.

Mr Strachan said the application was premature, given that an anemometer mast to measure wind speed was only erected recently, and options had not been fully explored.

He said, “In particular, there are many brownfield sites, areas of deprivation in need of regeneration, and unpopulated and bland landscapes in the UK which should be considered in the first instance prior to the development and ruin of a beautiful landscape.”

The Courier told on Monday how Fife Council had received almost 300 letters of objection to the Gathercauld wind farm, and there was opposition from Ceres and District Community Council, Ceres and District Environment and Amenity Protection group and the National Trust for Scotland.

However, despite claims the turbines could affect radar and wildlife, no objection has been made by the Civil Aviation Authority, national air traffic controller NATS, or the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

EnergieKontor admitted the wind farm would change the landscape but claims the visual impact would be limited and positive or negative depending on individual perception of turbines.

It also said the environmental and economic benefits of the development would outweigh the potential impact.

Habitat enhancements could bring a net ecological benefit, it said, and other potential issues—including impact on cultural heritage, hydrology and traffic levels—had been mitigated to limit their significance.