We have written a response to this letter which we hope will be published.
I am writing regarding the Hill of Fare wind farm proposal launched by Renewable Energy Systems Ltd (RES) in partnership with Dunecht Estates.
The proposal is to construct 17 turbines with a tip height of 250m (820ft) on the top of the Hill of Fare.
There is no precedent for onshore turbines of this height in Scotland, and to put the size of these proposed structures in context, each one will exceed the height of the Canary Wharf skyscraper (235m) in London’s Docklands. Turbines of this magnitude have only been installed in offshore locations to date, and in my view this is where they belong.
Certainly not on the Hill of Fare, which due to its location and geography, will make them highly visible to many thousands of Aberdeenshire people for tens of kilometres around in every direction.
While rural, the Hill of Fare is by no means a remote location. Add the associated noise, visual interference, additional power grid infrastructure, and effects on local amenity and wildlife including migrating birds and nesting red kites, and there is potential for this project to significantly diminish the quality of life for huge numbers of local folk all around the hill.
While I understand that in order to reach Scotland’s net-zero targets there is a need for more onshore wind farms as part of the renewable energy generating mix, it cannot be right or beneficial to achieve this at the expense of Scotland’s natural heritage and reduced quality of life and amenity for large numbers of her people. There is a balance to be struck here, and 250m onshore turbines cannot be part of it, except in the remotest of locations with low population density.
If this proposal is allowed to go ahead in its current form, a precedent will be set that will mean no hill, glen, moor, skyline or inspiring view will be safe from the installation of these monster wind farms by multinational companies and landowners eager to capitalise on these wild places that make this country such a wonderful place to live.
Linda Dunk. Torphins, Banchory.
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