By Iain Ramage
A landscape architect insisted yesterday that wind turbines up to 414ft
tall barely a mile from Highland homes would not be “overbearing or
dominant” in the countryside.
He was speaking at the start of a five-day appeal by a French developer
snubbed for a second time by Highland Council planners.
Druim Ba Sustainable Energy Ltd returned with a 10-turbine plan for a site
by Blairmore Farm, Kiltarlity, after losing a previous public inquiry into
a 23-tower proposal.
The fresh appeal follows Highland Council’s failure to make a decision
about the revised proposal within a four-month time limit.
The initial hearing prompted one of the most vociferous campaigns yet
mounted against a Highland windfarm planning application. The latest appeal
began by focusing on “landscape and visual impact.”
Opening witness at the inquiry, before a sparse public audience in
Kiltarlity village hall, was landscape architect Marc van Grieken of MVGLA
Ltd, who appeared for the developer.
He emphasised that the revised plan would mean turbines being built a
minimum of 1,800 yards from the nearest house – almost twice the distance
previously indicated.
Mr van Grieken said: “The potential visual effects experienced from local
residential properties is not so great that they would be reasonably and
commonly described as overbearing, oppressive or dominant when considering
the visual component of residential amenity.”
He also raised eyebrows on the public benches among campaigners, stating
that “there are people who positively like the view of windfarms”.
In a written submission, the council’s principal planner Ken McCorquodale
concludes that “the visual impact of this development would be particularly
significant and, in my mind, detrimental to receptors living, working and
passing through this area.”
The hearing resumes today (THURS) and continues tomorrow and next Tuesday
and Wednesday.
Scottish Government reporter Robert Seaton, who is chairing the event, also
chaired last week’s inquiry into the proposed Culachy wind scheme at Fort
Augustus. He said yesterday that he hoped to submit his recommendations on
that appeal to ministers in July.
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