Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Following extensive consultation with the local community and
with planning officials at Aberdeenshire Council, West Coast Energy
has formally revised its plans for the proposed wind farm at
Cairnborrow. The redesign of its proposed ten turbine wind
farm at Cairnborrow would see the removal of Turbine 7 from the
scheme, reducing the number of turbines from ten to nine.
This is the turbine at the most northerly part of the site on Black
Hill, and closest to Ardonald.
Over the past year, the renewable energy company has engaged
with the local community regarding its plans, including holding a
round of public exhibitions in November 2010, January 2011,
February 2011, and most recently in October 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 Cairnborrow Wind Farm and to contribute their
views on the scheme.
It is following direct feedback from the local community and
from planning officials at Aberdeenshire Council that West Coast
Energy has decided to remove Turbine 7 from their plan, thereby
reducing the number of turbines on the site from ten to nine.
This redesign has taken on board local concerns and enables West
Coast Energy to deliver a stronger proposal with the associated
environmental benefits.
All other elements of the development remain unchanged,
including the provision of a dedicated community turbine. The
partnership with the Huntly Development Trust will continue, with
the Trust assisting in developing the community turbine and working
with the local communities involved to ensure the money from the
community turbine is distributed throughout the local area.
Plans showing the amendment have been submitted to Aberdeenshire
Council, including Supplementary Environmental Information which
reports upon the environmental impact assessment undertaken of the
resulting 9 turbine scheme.
Steve Salt, Planning and Development Director of West Coast
Energy, said:
"We are very pleased to have worked with the local community in
determining this revised plan for the Cairnborrow Wind Farm. We
have received valuable feedback from the residents of Ardonald and
the surrounding communities and taken on board their comments when
undertaking the amendments to the plans. We are confident
that the redesigned project will deliver a wind farm that the local
community and West Coast Energy can be proud of."
Aberdeenshire West MSP, Dennis Robertson, said:
"The Cairnborrow Wind Farm and its associated community benefits
represent a great investment in Aberdeenshire. I am pleased to see
that the developers, West Coast Energy, are engaging and listening
with the community and responding positively to their views."
Donald Boyd of the Huntly Development Trust said:
"I am pleased to see that West Coast Energy has continued to
engage with the residents of Glass, Huntly, Cairnie and Ardonald,
and have taken on board the views that have been expressed.
The Huntly Development Trust looks forward to continuing to work
with West Coast Energy to ensure that local area will benefit
fairly from the community turbine funds."
The Supplementary Environmental Information may be viewed at
Aberdeenshire Council's planning office in Stonehaven and at the
libraries in Huntly, Dufftown, Keith and Aberchirder. A further
consultation period will now be undertaken by Aberdeenshire Council
for local residents to comment on the revised plans.
Find
out more about the Cairnborrow Wind Farm proposal.
