New windfarm proposals for Newton Mearns are set to be kicked out by
councillors.
East Renfrewshire’s planning committee will be presented with plans for six
giant turbines on Soame Windfarm by energy firm Coriolis Energy today.
The site, which sits between Shieldhill Farm and Moor Road, is being lined
up for turbines despite a previous bid being rejected eight years ago.
Andrew Cahill, the local authority’s director of environment, will
recommend that planning permission is refused again after concerns over the
visual impact and air traffic safety were raised.
Planning chiefs received objections from the National Air Traffic Service
and East Ayrshire Council, with 14 of the 15 public representations also
objections.
In his report Mr Cahill said that, with any windfarm development, a balance
has to be struck between the aims of generating electricity from a
renewable source against the impact on the landscape.
“Having considered all the matter relevant to this application and
balancing any positive impacts with any negative impacts, it is considered
that the proposed windfarm will have locally significant adverse visual
impacts and will be locally visually prominent.
“It is considered that the adverse visual impacts outweigh any benefits
that the proposal may bring.”
Coriolis are seeking to install six turbines measuring 76.5m, with a
generating capacity of 18 megawatts.
If the plans are accepted, all of the turbines will run from the Moor Road
side of the site to Shieldhill Farm.
A sub-station building, a control building, two borrow pits and an 80m-high
permanent anemometer mast are also planned.
The application also includes the formation of an access road from Moor
Road, with tracks leading through the site to each of the turbines and the
anemometer mast.
Even if the plans are successfully passed by councillors, the application
will be referred to Scottish ministers as a result of East Ayrshire
Council’s objection.
Coriolis Energy have admitted that the council’s refusal recommendation is
a setback.
A spokeswoman said: “We are disappointed that the project has been
recommended for refusal.
“We will await the outcome from the committee and will review our options
for the proposal.”
YESTERDAY AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING, THE COUNCILLORS VOTED TO REFUSE THE APPLICATION
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