Wind mast at Bodinglee approved by councillors
By Stephen Bark – Local Democracy Reporting Service
A mast to measure wind speed at Bodinglee near Biggar has been given
planning permission.
A precourser to a potential 62-turbine wind farm, 120m mast will be in
place for three years to provide data on the suitability of the site for a
wind farm.
Planning and building standards manager Tony Finn told the council’s
planning committee on Tuesday, February 23, said that “this application for
the mast relates only to the erection of it” and that it “wouldn’t set any
precedent or make any opinion in relation to the erection of turbines in
the area”.
Applicants Banks Renewables have proposed to construct a 6.5cm wide mast of
lattice construction which will minimise the visual impact on the
surrounding landscape at the summit of Scaur Hill.
A number of objectors felt this would be their only chance to oppose the
wind farm as an application for a wind farm of this size would be dealt
with by the Scottish Government.
No formal plans for the potential wind farm have been submitted yet.
Conservative group leader, Councillor Alex Allison (Clydesdale East) shared
objectors’ concerns.
He said: “I can understand the policy behind this being completely separate
from the wind farm proposal if it ever becomes an application.
“There is a lot of concern within the local community. If this area is
designated as not being suitable for wind farms as they have indicated, why
on Earth would we be wanting to put up an anemometer?
“Technically you are saying they are not connected bu in everybody’s
opinion they are.”
Clydesdale North councillor Richard Lockhart added: “I don’t see any point
in going through all of this cost and hastle if you’re not going to build
anyway.”
Objectors had pointed out that the application site was “part of a
turbine-free corridor” and that there was a “low capacity for wind farms”
in the area however, Mr Finn clarified that there was no formal designation
that the site couldn’t become a wind farm.
Mr Finn added: “Any application has to be considered on its merits.
“The suitability of a potential wind farm on the site would require a
wholly different assessment to this one.
“The key thing in this case is that the mast is 120m in height so there
would be a visual impact on the landscape but its considered that its
lattice construction would reduce that.
“In this case we consider that the proposal accords with the development plan.”
Should proposals for a wind farm at Bodinglee be submitted to the Scottish
Government, South Lanarkshire Council would be a statutory consultee and
would be able to object to the proposals. https://www.carlukegazette.co.uk/business/wind-mast-at-bodinglee-approved-by-councillors-3152232?fbclid=IwAR2xa4BdzvF9od8Xo6-Hh5KXaYOYlyHfWVeEY6SNy6ZvoGpapBr70O9tuAU
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