Councillors have urged Scottish ministers to blow out a windfarm they have warned would damage views of St Andrews’ historic skyline.
Renewable energy developer West Coast Energy wants to install five 328ft turbines at Lingo Farm, between Largoward and Dunino.
The firm has lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government as Fife Council had failed to determine its planning application on time.
Although that denied the North-East Fife area committee power to decide whether the scheme should be allowed, the committee’s view will be relayed to the Scottish Government reporter appointed to hear the appeal.
Councillors agreed that the windfarm should be rejected on the grounds of detrimental visual impact, the cumulative impact with a windfarm proposed three miles away by St Andrews University and to protect the setting of nearby Pittarthie Castle and Kinaldy House.
While it was feared the turbines would interfere with radar at RAF Leuchars, it is now anticipated that mitigation measures could prevent this.
Planners told the committee that the turbine blades would be visible in views of the St Andrews skyline from the West Sands and links.
A report before the committee said: “The likely change in the landscape setting of St Andrews, an internationally important historic built environment, with the introduction of rotating large structures above the skyline and horizon, has significant potential to upset its unique character and its setting.”
A spokesman for campaign group Stop Turbines at Cameron/Kinaldy voiced delight at the committee’s stance and confidence the appeal will be dismissed.
Cameron Community Council is among five community councils which objected to the plan, along with Historic Scotland.
Chairman Gordon Ball said: “This is the first step along the way to saving our local landscape, many residents and Pittarthie Castle from the unacceptable impacts of this inappropriate development.”