Plans for first wind farm south of Campbeltown
Initial plans for what could be the first wind farm south of Campbeltown have been revealed.
On behalf of SSE Generation Ltd, ITPEnergised Limited has submitted to the Scottish Government a request for a scoping opinion for a wind farm at High Dalrioch, about one mile south-west of Campbeltown.
The request is for 10 turbines to a maximum height of 180 metres.
While there are currently 20 wind farm sites in Kintyre at various stages of development, from scoping to fully operational, this is the first south of Campbeltown.
The proposal comes after a ‘no wind farms’ designation for land south of the town in Argyll and Bute Council’s 2015 Local Development Plan was removed from the proposed Local Development Plan 2.
The council has sent the proposed updated plan and all unresolved representations to the Scottish Government and an independent examination into issues raised began on Wednesday.
Alasdair Bennett, chairman of East Kintyre Renewable Energy Group (EKREG), told the Courier: ‘Since Argyll and Bute Council’s Local Development Plan 2 makes clear that land south of Campbeltown will no longer be protected from wind farm developments, it is no great surprise that this area it is now being scoped for development.
‘Given SSEN’s ongoing works to vastly increase the grid capacity in Kintyre to export renewable energy from the 11 wind farms currently at various stages of planning consent, as well as the nine already in operation and those still to be scoped, there can be little doubt where both the council and the Scottish Government see Kintyre’s future.’
He added: ‘EKREG’s sole purpose is to maximise the financial benefits to the communities impacted by these developments, whether through negotiated shared ownership and/or recommended community benefits.
‘In addition, and in light of the UK Government's recently published Energy Security Strategy and National Grid’s proposal to move to a nodal grid structure, we will now also seek to engage with SSEN, as the local network provider, to explore options that might help secure community benefits such as lower electricity tariffs for residents of Kintyre.
‘To achieve this will require the full support and engagement of both the public and every elected representative in Kintyre.’
EKREG works collaboratively with Kintyre community councils through the Kintyre Wind project.
‘It is no great surprise that this area is being scoped for development.’
Valerie Nimmo, convener of Campbeltown Community Council, said: ‘With regards to the High Dalrioch site, our main concerns would be visibility and impact on the landscape.
‘Our area is much dependent on tourism and we would not wish our rural landscape to be turned into an industrial one.
‘We have concerns about the height of the proposed turbines – 180m, as proposed, are offshore-sized turbines and, apart from being visible from more areas, they will require navigation lights and, hence, impact on our dark skies.’
She added: ‘Campbeltown Community Council has always been a supporter of renewable energy and the local population has tolerated the disruption to transport etc brought about by the construction of wind farms northwards on the Kintyre peninsula, despite the fact that the town of Campbeltown has received minimum benefit from them until the recent completion of Beinn an Tuirc 3 Wind Farm.
‘The Scottish Government Good Practice Principles for Shared Ownership of Onshore Renewable Energy
Developments would suggest that our town should benefit more, being the main centre of population on the peninsula.
‘This Scottish Government document also suggests that developers should offer community-shared ownership and community benefit, so we will be requesting that this is mandatory for the development to gain planning permission.
‘In addition, we would be looking to have a private wire network, which could supply our community with electricity at a much cheaper rate.’
South Kintyre councillor Tommy Macpherson said: ‘Whether you are for or against wind turbines in Kintyre is no longer a question; it is what we, as a community, can gain...job security, job creation, infrastructure investment, funding grants for our local trusts and community councils and a local source of subsidized cheaper electricity; now, there’s an idea.
‘With a consensus, it’s poker faces on and as one voices we must meet such proposals directly and with determination for South Kintyre’s benefit.’
Fellow South Kintyre councillor Donald Kelly said: ‘This proposal is at a very early stage in the process but, if granted, would be a significant departure from current council planning policy.’
Information on the scoping report can be viewed on the www.energyconsents.scot website.
‘We have concerns about the height of the proposed turbines – 180m, as proposed, are offshore-sized turbines ...’