Plans for Swarclett wind turbines prompt ‘misery and strife’ warning

Plans for a new Caithness wind farm have prompted a national campaigner to warn of the “misery and strife” that can arise when communities become divided over renewable energy developments.

Aileen Jackson, of Scotland Against Spin, highlighted the “striking” similarities between the proposed Swarclett Wind Farm at Bowertower and Neilston Wind Farm in East Renfrewshire.

Opponents of the two-turbine Swarclett scheme claim support has been targeted in Castletown, several miles away from the wind farm site.

Bowertower resident Tony Shaw, from the No to Swarclett action group, has pointed to parallels with the Neilston development which proved to be divisive when he lived near the village of Uplawmoor, south-west of Glasgow. The four turbines were built much closer to Uplawmoor than to the larger village of Neilston.

Mrs Jackson, who lives in Uplawmoor, said: “Residents of Neilston supported the application and were keen to benefit from the anticipated £10 million they would receive over the 25-year lifetime of the development. Uplawmoor, on the other hand, would be left with a desecrated landscape, 25 years of noise, visual intrusion, a reduction in property value and no compensation for the people most affected by the development.

“Uplawmoor residents were furious and it caused deep divisions and resentment between the two villages which still exists to an extent today, some 15 years later. To make matters worse, the wind farm was sold only four years after being commissioned, to a London-listed investment company whose purpose is to generate sustainable returns from a diversified portfolio of renewables infrastructure.

“Neilston only received £2 million of the anticipated £10 million and Uplawmoor was left with a wind farm which is now not even benefiting their neighbours in Neilston, let alone themselves.

“Situations such as this do not only cause divisions between communities, they can cause huge rifts between neighbours and family members within a community.

“Is it really worth causing so much misery and strife for the financial benefit on offer? It is a pittance compared to the profit being made by the developer.

“I know from personal experience the deep wounds it can inflict as I am a resident of Uplawmoor. Please do not let history repeat itself.”

Renewable energy company Wind2 is seeking to build two turbines, each with a maximum blade-tip height of 149.9m, on land between Bower and Durran, along with a battery energy storage system.

Mr Shaw and fellow campaigners Jan Lawler and Daniel Hopwood attended the latest meeting of Castletown Community Council.

As reported last week, Mr Shaw told community councillors: “We want you to support our campaign. More than that, we want you to take the opportunity to send a strong message on behalf of all affected communities across Caithness.”

He alleged that wind farm developers do not care if they turn one community against another and added: “With the Swarclett proposal, Castletown is barely affected. The small number of residents of the Bowertower community are very seriously affected.

“We do not want long-term damage to the relationship between the communities of Bower and Castletown.”

The campaigners say Swarclett Wind Farm will be within 800 metres of some properties in the Bowertower area and will have an unacceptable impact in terms of visual impact and noise.

Wind2’s planning application is due to be submitted to Highland Council this month.

Project manager Hannah Brown said recently: “We acknowledge the concerns from the local residents and appreciate their time in attending our public exhibitions held in both Bower and Castletown. Following receipt of the residents’ feedback from our first round of public exhibitions held in summer 2023, we have amended our community benefit and electricity contribution scheme proposals.

“The current proposal is to set up a Near Neighbours Electricity Contribution scheme for residents within 2km of each turbine. This would allow residents within the 2km boundary to claim £600 per property per annum to assist in covering their electricity bills, for the life of the project.

“There is an option to capitalise this payment to contribute towards the likes of solar panels or heat pump installation, if that was preferable.

“The remainder of the funds set aside for community benefit would be split between Bower and Castletown communities, as the project sits within each community council area. This is standard practice.”

Meanwhile, the No to Swarclett group welcomed three members of Castletown Community Council to see the proposed site. They were community councillor John Calder, secretary Liz Geddes and vice-chairman Mark Thorn.

Mr Hopwood said: “It was lovely to speak with them in such an informal context and we were able to give them a clear indication of where the turbines would be sited. Just as important is that they were able to see for themselves the likely impact on local residents of two turbines, each the height of a 40-storey building.

“We were also able to explain how the classic Caithness agricultural landscape seen as you travel between Wick and Castletown would be devastatingly altered by the presence of these massive turbines. Currently that journey is mostly free of dramatic turbine intrusion.”