Developers have withdrawn controversial plans to build a wind farm on the
hills above Helensburgh – but objectors fear the project could get the
go-ahead in another guise as the applicants vow to submit a revised proposal.
An objection by Glasgow Airport sounded the death knell for the £7.5m
five-turbine proposal, which was first submitted to Argyll and Bute Council
planners a year ago.
Opposition groups hailed the submission as ‘significant’, and although the
developers – Helensburgh Renewables, Green Cat Renewables, and land owner
Luss Estates – met airport managers in March to discuss the objection, it
was to no avail.
Glasgow Airport claimed the proposed development location on land north of
Drumfad Wood, about 2km north of the Burgh, is in a ‘sensitive area of
airspace’.
The representation stated the 86.5m turbines would clutter radar screens
and impact the ability of air traffic controllers to detect unknown
aircraft – reducing safety assurances.
Despite an email from the applicant on July 14 claiming they were ‘not
minded’ to withdraw the application, the proposals were dropped this week.
However, the developers have now confirmed they will seek another site for
the project.
Helensburgh Renewables told the Advertiser: “Due to aviation objections,
Helensburgh Renewables is redrawing plans for Helensburgh Community Wind
Farm and has consequently withdrawn its current planning application from
Argyll and Bute Council.
“Helensburgh Renewables will continue to work with NATS and is in the
process of screening an alternative location within the site boundary with
a view to developing and submitting revised plans in due course.”
Plans for the wind farm were initially unveiled in January 2013, when
concerns were soon raised about how the development – overlooking
Helensburgh – would affect the character of the town and impact the vista
of the near-by National Park.
Developers had claimed the Helensburgh community would receive a 33 per
cent share in the scheme via a locally-elected development trust, with a
potential to bring in £100,000 a year, or £4 million over the lifetime of
the project.
A spokesman for opposition group Turbines Evaluation Group for Helensburgh
and area (TEG-H), said the airport objection was just one in a number of
issues with the application.
He said: “Another application of a similar sort may yet emerge and, if it
does, the evidence of threat to the character and the economy of the town
is likely to remain.
“The new application will be, according to the developers, in ‘an
alternative location within the site boundary’. So it would still be above
Helensburgh.
“The reason given for interim withdrawal concerns air safety. However, air
traffic is just one of many grounds for objection and should not be the
determining factor, in our view.
“Major national and regional organisations (including Scottish Natural
Heritage, the National Park, the Association for the Protection of Rural
Scotland and others) have raised significant grounds to oppose the
turbines, as have many local bodies and individuals. If the new application
is similar, then these concerns are likely to remain.
“Evidence mounted against the first proposal and public consultations have
been consistently hostile to the wind farm. If any turbines in a similar
location were to be allowed, they could also set a precedent for a “crown
of thorns” around both the National Park and the Clyde estuary as well as
affecting Helensburgh. The prospect is disturbing.
“TEG-H will await further information and will keep the public informed
through its website and decide what action to take.”
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