Plans for a 260ft wind turbine near Clatto nature reserve in Fife are to be recommended for conditional approval despite criticism from campaigners.
The application, which was first proposed in 2012 and lodged in October last year, involves a turbine being erected at Muirhead Farm, south of Chance Inn, as part of a partnership between a local landowner and farmer and Tencreek Renewables Limited of Devon.
The applicant says that, if successful, the development provides an opportunity for a direct electrical connection to the farm and an important diversified income stream.
In a report to Fife Council’s North East Planning Committee, which meets in Cupar on Wednesday, council case officer Kathleen Illingworth is to recommend conditional approval.
She said the main issues raised by objectors were landscape and visual impacts including cumulative effects, residential amenity and perception of impact on the wildlife site at Clatto Reservoir.
However, she concludes that concerns about landscape and visual impacts have been carefully considered and deemed to be acceptable.
She said: “The proposed turbine is located in an area where there is no presumption against the erection of turbines and in landscape terms it is a site capable of accommodating the tall structure.”
The official concludes that, in terms of residential amenity, the application “does not create any unacceptable impact” and adds that “the proposed development would not have any adverse impact on ecology and other wildlife interests”.
Neither Scottish Natural Heritage nor the council’s natural heritage officer objected to the proposal but Ceres and District Environment and Amenity Protection Group, Clatto Landscape Protection Group (CLPG) and Ceres and District Community Council have lodged objections to the plan.
CLPG, which successfully campaigned against three windfarm applications on Clatto Hill and Devon Wood, is one of the parties which has voiced opposition based on landscape and visual issues and the impact on birdlife at Clatto reservoir and the local nature reserve.
Concerns have also been raised by Graham Lang, chairman of Ceres and District Environment and Amenity Protection Group, who said: “I deplore these activities in Nature Reserve Land which should be an area left undisturbed to protect the natural environment.
“Because of its scale, design and location this massive turbine would be an overbearing, prominent and discordant feature in the local landscape and have an adverse effect on the visual amenity of residents, visitors and people travelling through the area.”
Photo by George McLuskie