Around £50,000 of damage has been caused by vandals who caused a 230-foot
mast, put up as part of a proposed wind farm plan, to crash to the ground
in the hills above Greenock.
Windfarm company 2020 Renewables are offering a reward for information
leading to an arrest after their meteorological mast at Corlic Hill was
deliberately destroyed.
A spokesman for the company said: “Evidence from the site shows that
several guy wires and shackles were disconnected from their anchors,
leading to the collapse of the 70-metre high mast. The health and safety
implications of this targeted act of vandalism are of serious concern, as
an uncontrolled falling mast could have resulted in loss of life.
“We are co-operating with Greenock detectives who are investigating the
crime and studying CCTV footage in the area. If anyone has information
about the incident, please contact Detective Constable Stuart Young on
01475 492676. A reward for information leading to the arrest of those
involved will be given.”
Detective Constable Young said: “This is a highly unusual crime and it
would have taken an element of planning and knowledge to conduct. The
individuals who committed put themselves at extreme risk.”
The mast came down around 4am on Friday 3 October. It was on Burnhead Moor,
east of Corlic Hill, about three kilometres south-east of Greenock town centre.
Despite objections from Clyde Muirshiel Park, Inverclyde Ramblers and a
number of community councils, 2020 Renewables was given permission in
November last year to put the mast up for three years in connection with
their planning application to construct an eight-turbine wind farm.
The mast had devices on it for collectiing meteorological data to support
the proposed wind farm’s operational needs. The compnay say a new mast will
be installed.
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