Written by David Walsh
Councillors have objected to plans for a large wind farm in Moray.
Force 9 Energy wants to build the Clash Gour wind farm, consisting of 48
turbines, about seven miles south of Forres.
Their plans have been lodged with the Scottish Government but yesterday,
councillors got to have their say and rejected the scheme – meaning a local
public inquiry must now be held.
The turbines would almost completely encircle the existing Berry Burn site,
although the turbines would be about 75% larger – between 425ft and 575ft.
In a report, Moray Council’s planning team said the project would cause
“unacceptable” damage to the landscape by creating a wave of interconnected
wind farms between Hill of Glaschyle, Berry Burn and Paul’s Hill which
would be almost impossible to tell apart.
And at committee yesterday, councillors seized on those concerns and
claimed they would be overlooked by the Scottish Government.
Councillor George Alexander said: “Advice has been given out consistently
to the applicant that the turbines were against our policies and officers
identified five different policies that were breached.
“Why is it that the applicant has chosen to ignore these policies?
“Is it because they believe that even if we reject it, the Scottish
Government will approve it?”
Principal planning officer Neal McPherson suggested the policy was open to
interpretation.
He said: “They take a different view and interpretation of our policy along
with the national policy guidance and take a balanced view that the
application would be accepted.”
Councillors were given the chance to object to the proposals fully or
recommend a secondary option, for smaller turbines to be installed instead.
Elgin City North councillor Paula Coy put forward the second option as she
does not believe the overall development would create a “wind farm
landscape” and that they would not have an “accumulated impact” on the area.
However, that motion was defeated seven votes to three, meaning the council
has officially objected.
Andrew Smith, head of planning and development at Force 9, said: “We will
continue to work with community groups across Moray to seek to realise the
community shared ownership opportunity which unfortunately will now face a
lengthy delay in coming forward, given the council’s objection to the wind
farm and the public inquiry process that will now occur.’’
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