A company has launched an appeal over the refusal of planning permission
for a wind turbine which objectors claim would ruin the view of Arbroath Abbey.
The proposed turbine would have been on the south-west corner of Baird’s
Malt’s Arbroath malting plant, with a height of 252 feet – over 30 foot
higher than the national Wallace Monument.
Prior to the refusal by Angus Council, the authority’s countryside officer,
Stewart Roberts, warned the proposed turbine would adversely affect the
setting of Arbroath and landmarks such as the historic abbey.
The report also stated that the single turbine at Bairds Malt on Elliot
Industrial Estate would “dominate houses and have an overbearing effect”.
The proposed turbine was refused under delegated powers following 141
letters of objection.
Today (Monday) Baird Malt claimed any effect on historic vistas of the
Abbey, where Bernard of Kilwinning, then Chancellor of Scotland and Abbot
of Arbroath wrote the Declaration of Arbrotah, were “unavoidable but not
unacceptable”, and insisted it had “a strong appeal case”.
Richard Broadbent, technical director at Bairds Malt, said: “We were
disappointed by the refusal in March and do not agree with the council’s
interpretation of our application, in particular the concerns raised by the
council’s landscape officer.
“Our studies show that there will be no significant landscape effects and
while there will unavoidably be visual impacts from the development, our
assessments do not deem these to be at unacceptable levels.
“Bairds Malt brings significant investment into the local community and
provides employment for many families in the area.
“Our proposed turbine would enable us to significantly reduce our costs,
allowing us to maintain our level of business and remain competitive in an
increasingly challenging marketplace.”
He added: “The refusal did not recognise the potential for growth in the
local economy and how the development would be a genuine benefit to the
local community.
“We remain committed to delivering job security for our employees through
this development and believe that we have a strong appeal case.”
Appealing to the council’s planning committee, he added: “We are confident
that the committee will recognise the technical merits of, and the economic
opportunities created by, our proposals.”
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