By David Proctor
A north-east surfing club is preparing to fight windfarm developers over
fears the project could destroy the “jewel in the crown” of their sport.
Moray Firth Surf Riders yesterday said they were concerned about the
possibility offshore cables for a massive development could land at Sandend
beach.
The Moray East Offshore Windfarm would deploy 90 turbines off the coast,
which could provide power for 900,000 homes.
It includes onshore infrastructure which will be funnelled through the
Blackhillock substation, near Keith.
And at a recent public consultation event, the firm unveiled proposals to
potentially cut through the surfers’ sands.
They have now launched the Save Our Sandend group to try to protect the area.
Last night, a spokesman for the group said: “We want to raise awareness and
voice our concerns for proposals to instal offshore windfarm cables through
the beautiful Sandend beach and bay. It is also the jewel in the crown for
Scottish surfing.
“These sandbanks are extremely sensitive to sand movement, and any
unnatural movement of sand on the beach poses a huge risk to Sandend as a
quality surfing spot.”
Craig Sutherland, who runs a local surf school in the village, is backing
the campaign.
He said his business – and sport – was at risk if the beach became
tarnished by the cables.
Mr Sutherland said: “This is the most consistent, safe surf beach in
Scotland and is a huge asset to the local community and for tourism.
“Hundreds of kids and adults get their first taste of surfing here and we
are now sending some on to the Scottish team.
“We regularly use the beach for training with the aim of competing at
national, European and world junior competitions.”
The company behind the development held a public event in Portsoy earlier
this month to give people a chance to see the blueprints.
Craig Milroy, a spokesman for Moray Offshore Windfarms, said that
consultation process would carry on. He said: “Public engagement is a vital
and ongoing part of the development of proposals for offshore wind
generation in the outer Moray Firth, and we have undertaken considerable
public consultation since proposals were first announced in 2010.
Consultation is currently ongoing for the transmission infrastructure,
including local public exhibitions in the coming weeks to provide further
information and record views and opinions.”
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