Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Following ongoing dialogue with Council officials, West Coast
Energy has submitted proposals to allow Fife Council to reduce its
Devon Wood wind farm application. The moderated proposals
would see West Coast Energy reduce its planned wind farm on the
southern side of Clatto Hill in Devon Wood from seven turbines to
five, with a reduction in height to 115m from 121m.
Over the past 18 months, the renewable energy company has
engaged with the local community and Fife Council regarding its
plans, including holding two rounds of public exhibitions in June
2010 and January 2011, as well as a number of meetings with
community councils and other community groups. The public
consultation programme has given local communities and residents
the opportunity to learn about the proposals for the Devon Wood
Wind Farm and to contribute their views on the scheme.
The application was submitted to Fife Council in September 2010
and West Coast Energy is now keen to reach a positive determination
of its proposals. West Coast Energy has now offered to reduce
its project, both in terms of height and the number of
turbines. The latest proposals reflect feedback received by
some sectors of the local community.
West Coast Energy's has also confirmed its offer of a community
benefit fund that will deliver £3,500 per MW of installed capacity,
which will remain intact despite the reduction in turbine numbers
and height. The community benefit funds from the proposed
wind farm could provide up to £43,750 per year for the 25 year life
of the project to fund numerous local projects, should the wind
farm be granted planning permission. Local minister, Reverend
Richard Baxter, has helpfully facilitated an agreement with the
communities of Kennoway, Kettle and the Star of Markinch, to set up
a tri-partite Community Development Trust to administer the
community benefit funds.
In addition to providing a community benefit package for the
local community, West Coast Energy recently partnered with Carnegie
College to provide up to six financial support scholarships of
£1,500 each. These scholarships will be open to those in the
Kennoway, Kettle and Star Community Council areas to help them
start their careers in the engineering and renewables industry if
planning permission is granted for the wind farm development.
Steve Salt, Planning and Development Director of West Coast
Energy, said:
"We are grateful to the local community for engaging and
consulting with us on our Devon Wood Wind Farm project. The
feedback we have received has been very valuable. We have
listened to the views of the local communities and have developed a
sensitive reworking of the plans. We are confident that we
can deliver a wind farm that the local community will support."
ENDS
For more information, contact Ellie Casson by email eleanor.casson@invictapa.co.uk
or by phone 0131 220 0159.
