News Archive November 2004 - January 2005
NEWS
24 January 2005
Aberdeenshire Wind Farm Guidelines published Important!!
Aberdeenshire Council have published their guidelines for assessment of wind farm applications for consultation.(more...)
22 January 2005
Moray Council Update
Latest information with regard to the latest date for Moray Council's response on the environmental issues.(more...)
21 January 2005
Scoutmoor Wind Farm web site.
Details of a web site concerning the planned wind farm at Scoutmoor near Rochdale, Lancashire.(more...)
19 January 2005
Letters regarding Moray Council dates.
Letters from Anne Forbes to Megan Green and Nora Radcliffe regarding the mix-up over dates for Moray Council response.(more...)
18 January 2005
Scottish Executive plans wind web site.
The Scottish Executive have revealed plans to set up a web site to "blow away the myths" used by opponents of windfarms.(more...)
10 January 2005
AMEC EIA available on CD
A copy of the full Environmental Impact Assessment has been obtained and can be made available for viewing.(more...)
3 January 2005
Anger as plans for 15,000 wind turbines are revealed
An article in the Sunday Times on 2 January by Jason Allardyce.(more...)
30 December 2004
Scotland 'should not rush to develop windfarms'
An article written for the Parliamentary Monitor magazine by MSP Murdo Fraser.(more...)
Kildrummy Windfarm objections.
15 December 2004
Moray Council meeting note
A note from Anne Forbes regarding the meeting held today by Moray Council. (more...)
11 December 2004
AMEC responses posted
Information Note 1 from AMEC provides response to questions asked at the Open Meeting. This document is posted on the 'Minutes' page
9 December 2004
Responses posted.
Responses to questions which were unasked at the meeting due to time constraints have been posted on the 'Minutes' page.
7 December 2004
AMEC Proposal documents
The Executive Summary, Hydrology and Transport proposals have been added to the 'Reports' listing.
25 November 2004
Information web site on-line
This web site went live on 25 November 2004
ANNOUNCEMENTS
20 January 2005
Kildrummy Windfarm objections.
The Kildrummy Windfarm Action Group have started submission of objections to the planning authority regarding the planned wind farm.(more...)
15 December 2004
News page
A 'News' page has been added to the web site to present more details of news items of interest to the community.
15 December 2004
Moray Council meeting
Date for the final meeting of Moray Council. Last opportunity for comments and queries.
25 November 2004
Moray Council address
The correct address for Moray Council is :
Alan Short, Development Control Manager,
Environmental Services Dept.,
Moray Council,
High Street,
Elgin,
Moray IV30 1BX.
24 January 2005
Aberdeenshire Wind Farm Guidelines published Important!!
The following article appeared in The Press and Journal on Friday 21 January 2005 :
North-east windfarm guidelines drawn up.
New documents have been drawn up to provide clearer guidance on the development of windfarms in the north east.
The guidelines, which are split into two separate documents, are out for public consultation until February 4.
The first of the documents, Use of Wind Energy in Aberdeenshire - Guidance for Applicants, provides information and assistance for landowners who want to build wind turbines for private use.
It will also inform developers who are considering commercial developments.
The second document, Use of Wind Energy in Aberdeenshire - Guidance for Assessing Wind Energy Developments, outlines the Councils process for assessing potential windfarm developments.
Both sets of guidance have been developed as part of the councils renewable energy strategy, which was agreed in December 2004. It aims to promote the generation of heat and energy from renewable sources.
Councillor Alison McInnes, chairwoman of the councils infrastructure services committee, said: "The guidance is intended to provide potential developers with all the information they need to submit and progress an application.
"We are keen that members of the public will use the consultation period to give us their feedback on the clarity and content of the guidance."
Anyone interested can view the documents at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/planning and follow the links from the Local Plan page to the draft Supplementary Planning Guidance. Copies are also available for inspection at Woodhill House in Aberdeen.
We only have until 4 February 2005 to comment on these documents.
Back to top.22 January 2005
Moray Council Update
Anne Forbes has spoken with the Moray Council representative with regard to their objections.
The return date for their objections was extended to 21 January 2005 and they were submitted on 18 January.
Full details can be downloaded. The list of their original objections to the project are included.
Back to top.21 January 2005
Scoutmoor Wind Farm web site.
A web site concerning the planned wind farm at Scoutmoor near Rochdale, Lancashire, can be accessed at www.scoutmoor.com. It documents the oppostion to the project and has information regarding the impact of wind farms on the environment.
A document presenting the arguments against the wind farm is available in .pdf format.
Back to top.20 January 2005
Kildrummy Windfarm objections.
An email from Douglas Williamson (email : birkenbower@hotmail.com) regarding the proposed Kildrummy Wind Farm.
Npower Renewables Ltd. have applied to Aberdeenshire Council for planning permission for the building of eleven 100m, 2Mw turbine with associated roads and other works. We, KWAG, have submitted a formal objection and are now engaged in efforts to persuade a wide range of people and institutions to register objections with the Council. We have prepared a package to help objectors to do this and, if you e-mail your postal address to me, I shall send one to you. The application reference number is APP/2004/4603 and the address for receipt of letters of objection is; Head of Planning and Environmental Services, Aberdeenshire Council, Viewmount, Arduthie Road, Stonehaven AB39 2DQ. However, our package will supply an addressed envelope together with instructions, reasons for objection and sample letters, though we urge you to write your own using the material supplied. We are delivering packs widely in the Lumsden/Kildrummy area. We are emphasising the tier 3 status of the land and the proximity of the National Park (3Km).
Back to top.19 January 2005
Letters regarding Moray Council dates.
The text of letters and emails from Anne Forbes to Megan Green and Nora Radcliffe (and replies) regarding the mix-up over dates for Moray Council's response can be downloaded.
Back to top.18 January 2005
Scottish Executive plans wind web site.
An article by Ian Ramage dated 17 January 2005 on the "This is North Scotland" web site.
The Scottish Executive has revealed plans for a website to "blow away the myths" used by opponents of windfarms.
The move comes just a week after the Press and Journal published a map of proposed windfarms, produced by pressure group Views of Scotland.It also follows a weekend rallying call from energy experts, who gathered in Perth to urge more militancy to head off an explosion in the number of turbines across Scotland.
Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace said the website would give people "the hard facts" on renewables and wind energy and allow for informed debate - something pro and anti-windfarm campaigners have long called for.
The executive said its information was compiled "with the help of statistics from independent surveys" and that the website will be launched "in the near future" to "disprove numerous arguments used against windfarms".
The full article can be viewed here.
Back to top.10 January 2005
Transport Information
Details of transport vehicles (including drawings) likely to be used for the delivery of turbine components has been obtained.
Please contact Mike Davies, 01466 700213 or mike@integrawebdesign.co.uk, if you would like to see these.
Back to top.10 January 2005
AMEC EIA available on CD
A CD copy of the original Environmental Impact Assessment has been obtained and can be made available if anyone wishes to view it.
Please contact Mike Davies, 01466 700213 or mike@integrawebdesign.co.uk, if you would like a copy.
Back to top.3 January 2005
Anger as plans for 15,000 wind turbines are revealed
Up to 15,000 wind farm turbines may be built across Scotland, five times more than was previously thought, an official report has revealed.
The study by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the national environment agency, has exposed the full scale of planned wind farm developments, provoking outrage among environmental campaigners.
Nearly 500 farms, with turbines up to 460ft high, are planned in the next few years.
Previous estimates had put the number of turbines operational or awaiting planning permission at 3,000 and wind farm developments at 300.
Back to top.30 December 2004
Scotland 'should not rush to develop windfarms'
In an article written for the Parliamentary Monitor magazine, MSP Murdo Fraser says that renewable energy is important but Scotland should not become over-reliant on onshore windfarms.
The article refers to a report by the Scottish Parliament's Enterprise and Culture Committee which established an inquiry into renewable energy in Scotland. One conclusion was that a moratorium on wind farms should be implemented.
Back to top.16 December 2004
Amec response to Anne Forbes letter
I read with interest your letter to Moray Council.
I just wanted to clarify that the northern access route was indeed shown and discussed in the original submission, made in July 2003, and was not introduced as a new road. There are four existing Forestry Commission Scotland roads from the east side (Bailiesward, Bogancloch, Drumfergue and Mytice) but these, and the roads leading to them, are unsuitable for the types of vehicle used for turbine delivery, which are much longer than a normal HGV type vehicle. The northern access route would be used only for turbine delivery and not for general construction traffic.
The turbines would require 376 vehicle movements over a 30 week period, so therefore around 2 per day. A traffic management plan would be agreed with the Council and Police and residents along the roads would be kept informed of progress and likely timescales of activity etc. AMEC wish to keep any traffic disruption to local people to a minumum.
Alison Daugherty
Back to top.15 December 2004
Moray Council meeting
Just to bring you up to date with the situation as it appears at present:
Those who contacted Mr. Alan Short at the Moray Council about their meeting today, 15th December, were surprised to be told that the Clashindarroch Wind Farm Proposal was not even on their agenda! However, it has since been discovered by Friends of the Clash that the Council was asked by the Scottish Executive if the info in the new Environmental Impact Assessment reports had changed their opinion to oppose the proposal. They apparently said 'No' it had not changed their opinion. The Council believe, therefore, that there will now be a public enquiry.
People can still write to the Scottish Executive to ask if there is to be a public enquiry and to raise their concerns but might be too late for representations to be included in the material for the minister concerned to consider when making his final decision on whether or not to grant planning permission. This is not likely to be until the New Year. So we wait and see!
Happy Christmas to all concerned.
Anne Forbes
27th November 2004
Scottish Wind Watch Press Release
Campaigners join hands across Scotland to fight windfarms
Campaigners opposing windfarm plans across Scotland have launched a new initiative to promote co-operation between action groups and strengthen the campaign against the massive increase in windpower schemes - more than 400 projects totalling over 6000 turbine-masts are now in the planning pipeline in Scotland alone.
The "Hands Across Scotland" campaign was announced following the successful launch meeting of new campaign group GLARE (Galloway Landscape and Renewable Energy) in a packed village hall at Corsock, twenty miles west of Dumfries. Representatives of campaign groups from Dalmellington (Ayrshire), Mellock Hill (Kinross), Bridge of Cally (Glen Shee) and Glenfarg (Perthshire) spoke at the meeting and vowed to help GLARE in their fight against the Blackcraig windfarm which is planned for one of the most prominent and widely visible areas of high ground in Galloway.
As part of the new initiative, members of action groups all over Scotland will collaborate and pool resources and expertise in areas such as botany, ornithology, hydrology and geology to help scrutinize windfarm planning applications which are often hundreds of pages in length. Speaking after the launch of "Hands Across Scotland", Dr. Brendan Hamill, convener of Scottish Wind Watch, said: "2005 will be possibly the most critical year for landscape conservation in the entire history of Scotland. It is vital that action groups help one another to step up their campaigns against these massive industrial estates on the tops of our hills. If we lose this fight, Scotland's landscape will be blighted for generations and possibly for ever. This is not about global warming - even the windpower companies have admitted that windfarms don't reduce carbon dioxide levels - the whole process is driven by greed and blatant profiteering. The developers are simply desperate to cash in on the subsidy gravy train here in Scotland before it dries up, as has already happened in Denmark and Germany, where the governments have now realised they were sold a pup by the wind-industry."
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