Turbines bid could impact on Stirling

May 7 2010 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Friday

A CLOSE eye is being kept on the potential impact of a proposed windfarm.

Lomond Energy Ltd is proposing to develop a 14-turbine windfarm on Hill of Standing Stones between Merkins Muir and Auchenreoch Muir, on the north-west slopes of the Kilpatrick Hills.

The site is in West Dunbartonshire but close to the border with Stirling Council and the national park. The turbines are expected to be 110 metres high and would have a lifespan of 25 years.

Although West Dunbartonshire will determine the planning application itself, Stirling Council has been consulted.

Stirling Council planners said: “The environmental report accompanying the application indicates there are areas of Stirling Council falling within the zones of theoretical visibility for blade tips for the proposed turbines. The ZTVs for the turbine hubs are not yet available but will be of particular interst.

“Key locations with potential views of the windfarm are: the area around the Whangie, approximately five kilometres from the centre of the site; Killearn and the surrounding area together with the western edge of the Campsie Fells, including Dumgoyne Hill (around 10km from the centre of the site); and Balfron and the surrounding area (approximately 14km from the site).

“The main issues for Stirling Council are likely to be: landscape and visual effects, in particular from residential viewpoints in and around Killearn and Balfron and from recreational viewpoints in the Campsie Fells, at the Whangie and from the West Highland Way; and cumulative effects on landscape character, viewpoints and key sequential routes that are likely to result from adding the Merkins Windfarm to other existing, consented and proposed windfarms.”

They said: “The claim that the site is identified within the Stirling landscape sensitivity and capacity study for wind energy development as being suitable to accommodate windfarm development is erroneous and misleading.

“It is true that Merkins lies within the context study area and that some assessment work was undertaken to inform decisions for the focus area of the study. However, the report is explicit that the capacity to accommodate windfarms in context areas is not judged, as they lie outside Stirling Council’s boundaries and control. The misleading reference in the scoping report should not be repeated in the environmental impact assessment.

“The proposed route of the grid connection should be brought forward as soon as practicably possible. Should the route for the connection come into the Stirling Council area, then archaeological, landscape and visual issues may be relevant and the council should be consulted.

“Stirling Council has concerns about potential cumulative effects of windfarms as well as their individual impacts and the proposed use of Scottish Natural Heritage guidance on assessing cumulative impacts is welcomed.

“The fact the report acknowledges that tourism, recreation etc are relevant topics for investigation is welcomed. The Campsie Fells are a locally and regionally important recreational area.”