An appeal against a decision to reject plans for a new windfarm in East
Renfrewshire has been kicked out.
Moorhouse Windfarm Ltd had tried three times to get the green light for six
turbines in Newton Mearns, between Shieldhill Farm and Moor Road.
However, the proposals were snubbed after aviation chiefs claimed they
could lose track of planes over the site.
East Renfrewshire Council knocked back the plans in March this year, when
the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) claimed a windfarm could interfere
with radar in Glasgow and Cumbernauld.
And the local authority’s planning appeals committee then rejected an
appeal in August after Provost Jim Fletcher described the potential impact
on NATS’ systems as ‘worrying’.
The owners of Moorhouse Windfarm Ltd hoped to persuade a Scottish
Government-appointed reporter to overturn the decision by offering to
install a radar mitigation scheme to avoid planes getting lost.
However, in his findings, reporter Robert Maslin has stated the proposed
development would ‘have adverse effects on aviation safety’.
He said: “There is no material consideration which would justify granting
planning permission.”
Mr Maslin admitted that implementing a radar mitigation scheme could
overcome the adverse effects on aviation safety.
He also said that, if the turbines were installed, they would adversely
affect the view of the landscape.
Provost Fletcher described the decision as “refreshing.”
He said: “We get so angry at times when reporters overturn the decisions of
elected members, so this is very welcome.”
The application for the windfarm has been in the pipeline for more than
three years, with a series of delays preventing the planning committee from
making a decision until March.
Before that decision was made, Coriolos Energy, acting on behalf of
Moorhouse Windfarm, asked for a delay until an aviation impact report was
completed.
A total of 14 consultation responses were received, asking councillors to
reject the plans, with East Ayrshire Council saying residents living near
the existing Whitelee Windfarm and proposed sites at Glenouther and Blair
would become ‘encircled’ by turbines.
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