Good turnout as wind farm plans on show in Ardrishaig
Proposals for a large wind farm close to Ardrishaig have been unveiled at a public exhibition, writes Rita Campbell.
High Brenfield Wind Farm, with 17 turbines standing 220ft tall, is being put forward in a scoping document for the hill behind Inverneill by energy company Low Carbon.
It will be visible from Loch Fyne, Lochgilphead and Ardrishaig.
The public information event in Ardrishaig’s North Church Hall was well attended on Wednesday November 29.
Many locals who viewed the plans were concerned about the size of the turbines and the close proximity to Lochgilphead and Ardrishaig.
Ewan Telfer of Ardrishaig said: “I’m not against wind generation at all. I think it’s a great thing. But I’m not too sure about having it this close.
“The turbines are going to be 220 metres tall to the top of the tip. That’s pretty high.
“Does it need to be this close to the village? I feel it is pretty close.”
Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: “We are all in agreement with green energy. But there must be a better place for this wind farm, away from thousands of people.
“It is very close to a number of family homes. It is all very well to do surveys about the bird populations. But what about us? We’ve got to live here, see it, listen to it.
“I don’t think it is fair to have it here. There is going to be an impact on tourism, sailing.”
After people had the chance to attend the exhibition and learn more about the plans in their early stages, Ardrishaig Community Council held a meeting.
This gave people the chance to ask questions and give their views.
Gillian Hogarth of the community council said: “At the moment, the role of the community council is to listen to people, and make sure questions people have are answered.
“As a community council, we don’t have an opinion yet. We are here as a listening exercise. We will have follow-up meetings once we have had the chance as a community to discuss this. Then we will respond to the scoping document. We will come back with comments by January 12.”
The energy company is currently carrying out a scoping exercise for the wind farm, which would have a 40-year lifespan. If approved, it will be built on land used for commercial forestry, sheep and cattle grazing.
Benefits listed at the exhibition included local production of clean renewable energy.
The locations of future substations have not been considered yet. But they are usually sited as close to the turbines as possible.
All environmental surveys should be completed by autumn next year.
Low Carbon hopes to submit a formal application to the Scottish Government’s
Energy Consents Unit by winter 2024-25. It hopes approval will be granted in 2026, with a two-year construction phase beginning in 2027. If approved, the wind farm could be operational by 2028-29.
A follow-up meeting by Ardrishaig Community Council will be held on Wednesday December 13 in Ardrishaig North Hall at 7pm.
This is the second of three meetings which are being organised by Ardrishaig Community Council to inform residents of the proposals and gather feedback to enable residents’ views to be represented in the response to the scoping report prepared on behalf of Low Carbon.
The community council is also keen to hear from anyone living close to the wind farms in South Kintyre who has been adversely affected by them.