The following article was first published in the November 2012 Kinross Newsletter.
Councillor Mike Barnacle wrote to PKC nine months ago
asking for an end to further wind farm developments in the
Ochil Hills and has still not received a formal response.
Cllr Barnacle wrote jointly to Nick Brian, Development
Quality Manager at PKC, and his counterpart at
Clackmannanshire Council, specifi cally to object to
applications at Rhodders, Burnfoot Hill and Frandy Hill by
Wind Prospect but also to ask for a moratorium on further
wind farm developments in the Ochils.
In his letter of 18 January 2012, the Councillor reminds Mr
Brian of PKC’s revised Wind Energy Policy and Guidelines
(2004), commissioned by PKC, Clackmannanshire Council
and Scottish Natural Heritage. The policy stated that any
wind farm of a commerci al scale and with contemporary
turbine size would be inappropriat e in the Ochils. If the
councils and SNH considered that one would be
appropriat e, it was recommended that only one should be
permitted and then only on the basis of smaller turbines to
avoid dwarfing the hills themselves. The preferred location
was agreed to be in an area of undulating upland between
Glendevon and Glenfarg, utilising the topography to
‘nestle’ the turbines into the landform and minimise the
impact on the skyline from views north and south of the
hills.
Since then, wind farms are operating at Greenknowes and
Lochelbank, having been allowed on appeal by Government
Reporters. And in March 2007, Clackmannanshire Council
approved an application for a wind farm at Burnfoot Hill.
Cllr Barnacle states: “we now have three large windfarms in
the Ochils existing that I suggest are contrary to our Council
policies”.
Councillor Barnacle concludes: “ It is time to call a halt on
further windfarm developments in the Ochil Hills. PKC are
still reviewing their wind energy policies as part of their
Single Local Development Plan, also landscape
designations are set to change in consultation on the
Supplementary Guidance therein. In my submission to the
Main Issues Report for PKC’s Local Plan, I called for a
Regional Park Status for the Ochil Hills, like the Lomonds
of Fife. This beautiful hill landscape needs protection now,
not further industrialisation from more windfarms. If the
Ochils are anything to go by, Scotland faces the prospect of
major adverse impacts on its hill landscapes from the
Scottish Governments misguided and short-term energy
policy.”
A new website, www.kinrosswindfarms.co.uk, was set up
recently by concerned residents to provide information on a
proposal at Tillyrie in particular (see also letter by Gillian
Galbraith, page 5), but also various wind farm projects
nearby. The latest news on the website states that an
application has been made for a single 87-metre turbine at
Colliston Farm, Dunzie, Glenfarg. The closing date for
comments to PKC is Saturday 3 November 2012. The
application reference is 12/01727/FLL.