Windfarm fears for Aberdeenshire landscape in landscape thick with turbines – Press and Journal

By Blair Dingwall

Council officials have warned that proposals for two turbines in an area of
Aberdeenshire where 20 windfarms are already planned could damage the local
landscape.

Full planning permission is being sought by WPD Rothmaise for the 326ft
devices on farmland at the Hill of Rothmaise, near Rothienorman.

However, planning officers have recommended that the local authority’s
Garioch area committee reject the scheme at its meeting tomorrow. and there
are 102 objections to the project.

Stephen Archer, Aberdeenshire Council’s director of infrastructure
services, said the turbines would be contrary to planning policy because of
their potentially “significant and unacceptable” impact on the landscape.

Within 6.2 miles of the proposed scheme there are 20 turbine developments
approved, 10 of them within three miles.

There are a further four in the pipeline, while another four have been
blocked by councillors.

Mr Archer said the scheme “could create a confusing visual relationship
between the natural landscape and turbine development”.

Mr Archer added: “In principle, Aberdeenshire Council supports the
installation of renewable energy facilities such as wind turbines.

“The turbines have the potential to be perceived as prominent features in
the landscape when viewed from the surrounding roads and from parts of
Rothienorman and Fisherford.

“Furthermore, the proposal in combination with other approved wind turbines
in the local area would have significant and unacceptable cumulative impact
both sequentially and simultaneously on landscape character and visual
amenity.”

There are also plans for a substation about two-thirds of a mile north of
the turbines.

A spokesman for WPD Rothmaise said the 25-year scheme would bring more than
£575,000 of benefits to the local area and contracts worth more than
£700,000 to the council during the construction process.

He added it could provide electricity for 2,650 homes.

“All statutory technical consultees concluded that the proposed windfarm
would have no significant adverse effects on the local and wider area,” he
said.

“The Rothmaise wind farm proposal presents an opportunity for local
economic and community benefit whilst conforming with existing, consented
and planned development in the area.”