Turbine refusalis overruled

Councillors have cleared the way for a wind turbine to be put up near Carnbo, west of Kinross, after the company seeking consent for it challenged a planning officer’s reasons to throw out its application.

Ecotricity unsuccessfully applied for permission to erect the 25 metre high turbine near the hamlet to power nearby Wharlawhill Farm last year, after its even earlier application to erect two smaller ones at a site close by was refused back in 2017.

Case officer John Williamson said of the earlier proposal: “Whilst the scale of the turbines is limited ... I believe that granting consent for further turbines with[in] the Loch Leven Basin will serve to further erode the landscape character of this area.”

And Mr Williamson said the same thing about the second proposal for a single turbine adding: “Overall the proposed turbine is considered to detrimentally alter the landscape character of the Loch Leven Basin by introducing a further vertical moving structure further east along the basin. I do not consider the reduction from two turbines to one to alter my view in this regard.”

However after visiting the site and listening carefully to the applicant’s case for the single turbine again this week the council’s Local Review Body opted to overrule Mr Williamson’s refusal.

Cllr Willie Wilson said: “I think we should agree to consent this wind turbine.

“I couldn’t see any problem on site ... about visual impact, considering the area is studded with pylons which we’ve grown to accept.

“Turbines are a reality. We need to be careful about their siting ... but I think this one ... on balance, complies with our policies.’’