By Jamie Ross
A north-east councillor, who gained planning permission for a wind turbine
on his land, is facing a fresh fight for approval after a legal challenge
at the Court of Session.
Cllr Sandy Duncan became embroiled in a row between members of the Banff
and Buchan area committee last year when SNP members backed his bid to
install a 150ft turbine on his farm at Forglen, near Turriff, despite it
being earmarked for refusal.
At the time, the then-independent Macduff councillor, Mark Findlater,
claimed the structure had the potential to “sterilise” development in the area.
An application for homes, close to the potential side of the turbine, is
currently with planners and there are fears it might also affect the
restoration of the nearby Mains of Carnousie steading – an at-risk
18th-century building erected by General Patrick Duff of Carnousie Castle.
Mr Findlater, who subsequently joined the Conservative group, said: “This
will probably be the death knell of the historic steading and goes against
common decency.”
However, since then, Aberdeenshire Council has conceded a legal challenge
by the Court of Session on the validity of the turbine’s approval.
As a result, Banff and Buchan area committee members are due to discuss the
proposal again at a meeting today, when they will learn that 47 letters of
objection from members of the public were sent to the council’s planning
service.
Public concerns included the impact the turbine would have on local
wildlife, and the cumulative effect of the structures on the area.
Stephen Archer, the local authority’s director of infrastructure services,
has called for councillors to refuse the application.
In his report to members, he described the Deveron valley – where the
turbine is scheduled to be built – an “environmental asset”.
He added: “The social and economic benefits are likely to be localised to
the applicant and, as such, do not outweigh the adverse impact on the
landscape.
“The turbine proposed would be a significant feature of this landscape and
would appear incongruous within a landscape which is generally
characterised by openness and sporadic development.
“As such, it is considered that the erection of this turbine, in
conjunction with the other turbines already operational and consented to
the south of the River Deveron, would further damage the landscape.”
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