By Jamie Ross
A community group is facing a battle to erect a turbine on the outskirts of
a north-east village.
Fraserburgh Development Trust is seeking planning permission to build the
249ft structure on land at Howford Farm in Strichen, to support local projects.
It is proposed that up to 20% of the profits would be injected into local
initiatives and money would also be paid to the farm’s owners to ensure the
continuation of work to develop a garden centre for people with learning
disabilities.
However, objections have been lodged to the scheme by the Joint Radio
Company and the air traffic service Nats.
The trust’s manager Mark Jackson has claimed the turbine would be a “real
community asset” and argued it would allow the group to provide funding to
a range of projects across the north-east.
He added: “Many people may already be aware of some of the work undertaken
by the trust, such as Fraserburgh Super Saturdays, a blossoming community
garden, and the sports hub.
“The trust is a charity that operates within both Fraserburgh and the AB43
postcode area and any surplus revenue from the turbine would be used to
develop grassroots-focused projects across this area.
“There would also be a community fund established for the village of
Strichen. This would be administered by residents within the village.”
However, the JRC, which monitors radio wave interference for energy
companies in the UK, has countered with their belief that the turbine could
cause problems with equipment.
In a letter to the council, Nats added that radar systems could also be
affected by the amenity.
The correspondence stated: “This development is likely to cause false
primary plots to be generated.
“A reduction in the radar’s probability of detection, for real aircraft, is
also anticipated.”
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