Plans for a second giant wind turbine on the Dundee-Angus boundary are being opposed by residents and the Ministry of Defence.
Tealing Community Council did not object to landowner Charles Simmers’ first project on the former wartime airfield off the A90, which is about to be switched on.
They feel differently about his bid for another turbine alongside. At just under 90 metres to its tip, it would be almost as tall as the first structure and they believe the pair would dominate the rural landscape.
“We didn’t say anything about the first one but putting another one alongside would have a cumulative effect,” said community council chairman Graeme Reoch. “We don’t want the land around Tealing to become a windfarm.”
Nicki Robertson of Balnuith Cottage has objected to Angus Council on grounds of the turbine’s visibility, its proximity to listed buildings and ancient monuments, noise and horses being upset by the whirring blades.
Helen Key of Kirkside said the second turbine would be unsuitable and extremely invasive.
Jackie and Brian Bell of The Holdings are concerned about shadow flicker from the blades and fear it could be visible from as far away as Fife and Perthshire.
The MoD has repeated its objection to large turbines in the area of military installations which have been shown to interfere with radar in this case at RAF Leuchars.
They can create “false” aircraft on radar screens which can lead to increased workload for controllers and aircraft crews in distinguishing actual aircraft.
The MoD say they will waive their objection if the problem can be overcome and the turbine fitted with special lighting to indicate its presence.
Mr Simmers of Whiterashes, Aberdeenshire, wants to erect a wind turbine that will be 60 metres to its hub and 86.5 metres to its blade tip at the former Tealing airfield.
The project is being handled by agents Green Cat Renewables of Midlothian. No comment was available from the company on the latest application yesterday.
Mr Simmers and Green Cat won approval for their first turbine on the site on appeal to the Scottish Government after it was rejected by Angus Council.
In a £2 million project, the 93.5-metre turbine, which will generate 2.5mW of electricity for the national grid, is due to be commissioned in the autumn.
Scottish Government reporter Roger Wilson imposed 17 conditions, including the fitting of aviation lighting to be agreed with the Civil Aviation Authority and the MoD. He said the landscape at Tealing was “far from pristine” and dominated by poly-tunnels and agricultural infrastructure. There were also electricity pylons and telecommunication masts on Craigowl Hill and Gallow Hill.
He believed the turbine’s scale would be greater than the pylons but would not give a significant impact on the landscape, and he believed most of the cultural heritage features would be screened by other constructions and the natural vegetation.
He concluded that the appellant had optimised the development by proposing a turbine large enough to deliver environmental and economic benefits but not “unduly dominate its surroundings.”
The appellant contended that overall the landscape and visual effects of the turbine would be of low significance, and he agreed.