Article
Turbines Will Spoil The View
This is North Scotland|Billy Youngson|February 21, 2006
A Panorama visible from a string of popular view points across the North-east could be blighted by a new windfarm.
A Panorama visible from a string of popular view points across the North-east could be blighted by a new windfarm.
Developer Amec has controversially upped the height of its proposed turbines at Clashindarroch forest near Huntly.
The company, who has reduced the number it is bidding for from 47 to 40, wants to raise each turbine to 351ft - 25ft taller than originally planned.
Members of Aberdeenshire Council's Marr area committee have hit out
at the plan.
Councillors are now passing their concerns on to the local authority's infrastructure services committee.
Opposition group Friends of the Clash has been set up by the public.
Members fear the development would see 2,386 acres of trees cleared.
The final decision rests with the Scottish Executive, which holds a public inquiry in May.
The national energy firm unveiled its proposals in 2003. Planners …
Developer Amec has controversially upped the height of its proposed turbines at Clashindarroch forest near Huntly.
The company, who has reduced the number it is bidding for from 47 to 40, wants to raise each turbine to 351ft - 25ft taller than originally planned.
Members of Aberdeenshire Council's Marr area committee have hit out
at the plan.
Councillors are now passing their concerns on to the local authority's infrastructure services committee.
Opposition group Friends of the Clash has been set up by the public.
Members fear the development would see 2,386 acres of trees cleared.
The final decision rests with the Scottish Executive, which holds a public inquiry in May.
The national energy firm unveiled its proposals in 2003. Planners and councillors agreed at an earlier meeting that the change in height was unacceptable.
Head of planning and building control Mairi Stewart said: "The original appraisal considered this development was at the limit of acceptability.
"The revised proposal will appear dominant and overbearing and as such cannot be supported."
Banchory East and Crathes councillor Jenny Watson said the planned increase in height was alarming. But she said the council could not take into account fears about the impact on the Cairngorms.
The infrastructure services committee will meet on March 9.