Opponents of a proposed Greenock wind farm today criticised claims that
cutting the number of turbines would make a big difference to how it looks.
Developers 2020 have produced a new photo montage, published last week in
the Tele, right, showing how the Clyde Muirshiel Park wind farm would look
from the sugar sheds and James Watt Dock Marina.
But the Save Your Regional Park campaign have now dismissed the image as
public relations ‘spin’.
Campaign chairman Nigel Willis said: “The photo might as well have been
taken in the dark.
“Look at the grey sky in this picture and you can immediately tell that it
would be almost impossible for the superimposed turbines to be seen against it.
“We challenge 2020 Renewables to publish another photo montage based on a
blue sky which we, in the west of Scotland, frequently have.
“This is the condition that the vast number of tourists on land, on cruise
ships and on the Clyde ferries remember.”
Mr Willis also questioned the significance of the decision to go for eight
turnines instead of 10.
He said: “The reduction will make no difference to the destruction of the
important Corlic Hill section of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park which among
other things, is the most important Roman and Iron Age site in the area.
“Also at risk is pollution of the public water supply.
“Private water supplies, of which there are many at risk from this
development, do not even have the luxury of water treatment plants and they
too would be put at considerable risk.”
If approved, the 110-metre turbines would be taller than Big Ben and
around two-thirds the height of the 158-metre Blackpool Tower.
Alasdair Macleod, development director of 2020 Renewables, says that a full
set of photo montages has been submitted to the council as required in
support of the planning application.
Mr Macleod said: “All photo montages supplied accord with the guidance
provided by Scottish Natural Heritage and have been accepted by Inverclyde
Council.
“These illustrate the visual impact of the windfarm in clear blue skies and
in grey skies. We are confident that the council will be able to make an
informed decision based on the good quality visualisations that have been
prepared.”
He added: “On the matter of potential for pollution, we are pleased to
report that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has reviewed the
environmental statement and has no objections to the windfarm. As such, the
concerns expressed by the Save Our Regional Park campaigners are without
foundation and are unhelpful.”
It is not known yet when the application will go before the planning board.
0 Comments