Swedish state energy firm appeals Dava Moor decision – Strathspey Herald

The Swedish energy firm planning a wind farm just outside Grantown has
revealed that it is appealing against Highland Council’s refusal to allow
the trial of two meteorological masts at the site.

Vattenfall is challenging the local authority planning committee’s
rejection of their plans for the temporary wind-measuring masts relating to
their Ourack Wind Energy Project.

The site abuts the Cairngorms Natonal Park boundary some six kilometres
north of the Strathspey capital.

The appeal has been lodged with the Department of Planning and
Environmental Appeals, and comes three months after the plan was rejected
by the council’s South Planning Applications Committee.

At the time of the decision, Vattenfall, which is owned by the Swedish
state, warned that the decision to refuse permission for the two temporary
90-metre masts could cause unnecessary delay to important energy
infrastructure investment.

Frank Park, Vattenfall’s project manager for the Ourack Wind Energy
Project, said at the time: “We strongly believe there is an opportunity to
develop a good wind farm on the Ourack site which not only makes an
important contribution to Scotland’s climate change obligations but also to
the local community and the regional economy.

“We have taken the view, therefore, that an appeal to the Department of
Planning and Environmental Appeals is the right way forward, and we are
confident that we can make a strong case to overturn the decision by the
committee for two temporary met masts.”

Vattenfall began engagement with local residents about the Ourack Wind
Energy Project in January.

In February it applied to Highland Council for permission to erect two
temporary meteorological masts to measure wind speeds on the
30-square-kilometre Ourack wind energy development site.

Permission was refused to develop the test masts, despite the planning
officer’s recommendation of approval.

SNP Badenoch and Strathspey councillor Bill Lobban told the committee
meeting on April 1 that the masts, proposed for west of Larig Hill and east
of Dava Farm Cottage, would have a devastating impact on the beauty of the
Dava Moor area.