Friday 21 August 2015

Great News - Hill of Flinder Wind Turbine developer withdraws appeal

Developers have withdrawn their appeal against the decision to refuse the 400ft wind turbine on Hill of Flinder that would have dwarfed the nearby Dunnydeer Hill and its ancient Hillfort and Castle remains (the oldest example of its type in Scotland. I 1st mentioned it here:
http://acallow.blogspot.co.uk/…/wednesday-18-feb-2015-summe…
And here was my Letter of July this year against the Appeal - feel free to plagiarize:
The Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals
4 The Courtyard
Callendar Business Park
Callendar Road
Falkirk, FK1 1XR
Dear Sir/Madam
Scottish Ministers Reference: PPA-110-227
Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997
Proposal: Erection of Single 900kW Wind Turbine (Hub Height 45m, Total Height 67m), Access Track and Ancillary Infrastructure
Address: Land At, Hill Of Flinder, Insch, AB52 6YY
Grid Reference: 359088.827708
It has come to my notice that, contrary to the advice of the local planning authority the developer of the above proposal has decided to appeal . In addition to my previous comments I would reaffirm my strong opposition to this application. Whilst there are strong ethical grounds to object to the redistribution of taxpayer's and energy consumer's (many of whom are not wealthy) funds via subsidies to landowners there are a number of practical concerns that make this application unacceptable:
1. This application has already been rejected by the appropriate local authority. Surely the Scottish Government should take cognisance of the primacy of LOCAL officials in local matters.
2. Visual Impact – as I have already mentioned, Hill of Flinder is a wholly inappropriate site. The proposed turbine shall be almost 200feet tall (which is HALF the height of Dunnydeer Hill!). It will therefore be visible from a wide area; inevitably it shall dwarf the ancient 12th Century Dunnydeer Castle – the oldest of its type in Scotland and thereby despoil the stunning scenery of the area.
3. Inappropriate siting; impact to health and well-being of residents – this proposal is sited too close to dwelling houses. The construction works will expose residents to considerable noise and disruption and the completed turbine will inevitably have a visual and audible impact, detrimental to health and well-being.
4. Environmental damage - the environmental assessments presented are predictive. If incorrect the damage cannot be undone.
5. Economic argument – without taxpayer funded subsidy this development would not be considered. Furthermore a single turbine cannot possibly have a measurable effect on global climate change, though it will have a serious detrimental effect to my village.
I trust that my points shall be given careful consideration in your decision process.
Yours Faithfully
Alan Callow

1 comment:

  1. Good Effort! These don't save the environment, they blight it.

    ReplyDelete