by Rita Campbell
Councillors are being recommended to object to a proposed 17-turbine wind
farm near Inveraray in Argyll when its planning committee meets tomorrow.
Argyll and Bute Council is being asked to respond to a Scottish Government
consultation on behalf of Coriolis Energy.
The site of Blarghour Wind Farm is 4.35 miles north west of Inveraray and
the turbines would be visible from the villages of Dalavich and Inverinan.
Turbines would be a maximum ground-to-tip height of 447ft and there would
be an access track to the A819 Inveraray to Dalmally road.
In a report before the planning committee, officers write: “Blarghour would
introduce prominent and large scale wind farm visibility extensively around
Loch Awe affecting areas with currently limited wind farm visibility.
“The wind farm would be obvious in most views from around the Loch and
although the area along the routes is largely wooded there are continuous
glimpses, panoramic openings and framed views which are important
highlights of the scenic landscape experience when traveling along these
routes.
“Blarghour would form a key feature on the horizon. It would often be in
the focus of the view, in several views diminishing landscape scale or
dominating the view.
“These views would also be extensive along the western and eastern
shoreline and from the open water, impacting on any water-based
recreational activities such as fishing and boating.”
The council is being asked to respond to the Scottish Government’s Energy
Consents and Deployment Unit (ECDU) Section 36 consultation for the wind farm.
So far there have been 105 letters of representation made to the Scottish
Government’s Energy Consents Unit with 65 in support and 40 objections.
Supporters cite the positive impacts of farm diversification and economic
benefits. They also praise the habitat management plan and say wind farms
are the least obtrusive way of generating power.
Objectors say there will be an adverse impact on the landscape, that the
scale and siting is unacceptable and Loch Awe is already a significant
producer of renewable energy.
The council officers are also of the opinion that the development could
have an adverse impact on soil and peat resources.
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