Controversial Highland wind farm plan kicked out
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PLANS for a controversial 20-turbine Highland wind farm have been blocked by councillors.
Highland Council’s south planning applications committee unanimously rejected RWE Innogy UK’s proposals for the the development at Glen Kyllachy near Tomatin.
The move came despite council planners recommending that the project be approved.
Councillors were concerned about the cumulative impact in an area where several other wind farms have either already been built or are pending construction having been given the green light.
A motion by councillor Bill Lobban to reject the plans was seconded by councillor Carolyn Caddick and unanimously supported.
Councillor Lobban, SNP member for Badenoch and Strathspey, argued it contravened the Highland local development plan because of its significant visual impact, both taken cumulatively with Farr Wind Farm and on its own.
He added that views from the Slochd, Strathnairn, Loch Ashie, Abriachan and the Great Glen Way would be harmed.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Caddick, who represents Inverness South ward, raised concerns about traffic and voiced fears about water pollution and the environmental cost of extracting peat, which acts as storage tanks for carbon and are said to play a crucial role in mitigating climate change.
"I have very grave concerns," she said. "The turbines are bigger than those on the Farr Wind Farm and will add to the noise problems that are already affecting Farr. I have had a lot of complaints from residents about this in the past. But my main concern is the cumulative visual impact."
Margaret Davidson, independent councillor for Aird and Loch Ness, said people living in the area had grown quite fond of Farr wind farm but that did not meant they wanted to see it extended.
"By and large people do not mind it," she said. "Many people actually think it looks quite nice. And it does. It’s well-designed, well-positioned. But I agree that putting more wind farms next to an acceptable wind farm, does not make for acceptable wind farms."
Roddy Balfour, independent for Culloden and Ardersier Ward, said: "I think we must look at this as members and see that people have made very pertinent reasons for wishing for refusal."
