Wind turbines plan backed by councillors

TWO new wind turbines in Alvah have come a turn closer.

Plans for the erection of turbines at Strath of Brydock, Alvah, for the Grampian Country Food group, were given the nod by the Banff and Buchan area committee of Aberdeenshire Council.

They will now be referred to Scottish Ministers for a final decision.

Fifty-six representations from nearby residents and from across the North-east, supporting the scheme, were sent to council planners after the application was advertised as a departure from the local plan.

One of these was an environmental consultants' report backing the applicant's position in relation to nearby Inchdrewer Castle.

Historic Scotland objected because of the impact on Inchdrewer, 800 metres away, and will now be notified of the committee's recommendation.

Plans to build the two 100 metre high wind turbines near the unoccupied, A-listed Inchdrewer Castle were backed by councillors in April - in the face of warnings by residents that the development would have an impact on tourism, road safety, wildlife and house prices.

Two objectors who live close by, at Strath of Brydock, Alvah, said the only people who would benefit would be the owners of the Mill of Brydock site, Grampian Country Food Group.

One of the residents presented councillors with a 35-name petition to back their argument.

A spokesman for Grampian Country Food Group said that money raised from the energy generated would benefit the local community.

The supply from the turbines would help subsidise the income of the site-owning farm, and power generated will be used for the mill, the spokesman claimed.

The applicant is in the name of A.J. Duncan, of Muirden, Turriff.