Helensburgh Community Council has called on the public to attend its debate
on plans for a windfarm on the hills above Helensburgh and Rhu.
The developers, Helensburgh Community Development Trust, Green Cat
Renewables and Luss Estates will be represented at the meeting alongside
members from the community group opposing the five turbine plan – TEG-H.
Following a presentation by the Turbines Evaluation Group–Helensburgh
(TEG-H) and a ‘lengthy debate’ at the August HCC meeting, community
councillors invited the group to participate in the public meeting with
Helensburgh Renewables.
The debate will take place in the Victoria Halls on Thursday, October 23,
after which residents will be encouraged to submit views on the plans to
council officials before the Planning, Protective Services, and Licensing
Committee meet to make a final decision.
Community councillor John Tacchi will chair the debate, with each side
given 15 minutes to make its case before opening the debate to the floor
for a question and answer session. Each side will then sum up before a vote
at the end of the debate.
Helensburgh Renewables submitted a planning application to Argyll and Bute
Council in July for the five 800kW wind turbines – which will stand 86.5
metres high to the blade tip.
The community council believes the proposals are amongst the ‘most
important’ applications in Helensburgh in recent years.
Darrel Hendrie, convenor of the community council, said: “The community
council is holding the meeting as it is our duty to ascertain the public
opinion.
“It is also a chance for the public to ask questions of Helensburgh
Renewables and the Turbine Evaluation Group and gain information.
“The result of the vote will be used by the community council in reaching
its own decision at its next full meeting on October 30.”
Both the developers and the Turbines Evaluation Group (TEG-H) welcome the
public meeting.
Helensburgh Renewables will be represented by Ian Fraser and Gordon Smith
at the meeting.
Speaking to the Advertiser last week, the group said: “Helensburgh
Renewables welcomes the chance to debate our proposals on a public
platform, and we greatly look forward to both putting forward the case for
Helensburgh Community Wind Farm, and to having the chance to directly
answer peoples questions and concerns.”
TEG-H added: “It will be a further opportunity to alert the public to the
risks associated with the Helensburgh wind farm proposal. Those risks are
environmental, social, and economic.
“After examining the issues, TEG-H has concluded that the proposed wind
farm should be contested and refused for the long-term welfare of
Helensburgh. But this also affects the National Park and settlements around
the Clyde Estuary – about 90,000 people by our calculations.
“TEG-H is encouraged to see that already there are a substantial number of
objections lodged with Argyll and Bute Council. These include criticisms
from the National Park Authority, Scottish Natural Heritage, the
Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland and other organisations,
including some community councils. These representations show that the many
adverse effects of the projected wind farm are understood by a wide range
of people. TEG-H will explain these at the meeting.”
The public meeting will start at 7.30pm in the Victoria Halls for all
residents in Helensburgh and Lomond.
0 Comments