Turbines ‘threat’ to view of historic lighthouse – The Herald

Anna Gault

A VIEW towards the world’s oldest surviving sea-washed lighthouse could be
“ruined” by a massive windfarm dwarfing the historic tower, planners fear.

Turbines planned for 10 miles off the Angus coast would be five times the
size of the 200-year-old Bell Rock lighthouse, say Angus Council’s planners.

The council is due to submit comments on the development to Marine Scotland
and says the impact of the planned 213-turbine windfarm would be
“significant and unacceptable” on the seascape.

The council will now ask Marine Scotland, which decides on offshore
windfarms on behalf of the Scottish ministers, to look deeper into the
effects of the 450 megawatt windfarm.

Bell Rock Lighthouse expert David Taylor said: “The view of the lighthouse
will be ruined. It’s really a despoiling act to build this windfarm.”

In the report, Angus Council planning chief Vivien Smith said: “The Bell
Rock lighthouse is the only tall structure in the seaward view and, apart
from passing ships, the only light source at night on an otherwise dark
horizon. It is evident that the proposed development will have an impact on
the seascape.”

With other planned turbine developments she says “significant cumulative
seascape effect” is possible.

Inch Cape Offshore Limited (ICOL) won development rights in 2011 for the
site on the Bell Rock or Inchcape reef. Historic Scotland and the Scottish
Environment Protection Agency have not objected to the proposal. Scottish
Natural Heritage has yet to respond.

The council says a seascape assessment from the developers “has a number of
shortcomings” and does not reference the lighthouse.