A public inquiry has been launched this week into plans for a controversial onshore wind farm close to the Highland village of Rosehall.
Residents have hit out over the proposals for the 73MW Strath Oykel wind farm, voicing considerations over the visible and environmental impacts of growth close to one in all Scotland’s most well-known fishing spots.
The proposals, put ahead by the UK arm of German developer Energie Kontor, would see 11 generators constructed round a mile south-east of Doune in Sutherland, in addition to a 5MW battery storage system.
Website plan for the Strath Oykel wind farm. Equipped by Energie Kontor
The corporate mooted plans for a 16-turbine growth within the Strath Oykel forest space in 2021, later revising the quantity to 11.
Nevertheless, earlier plans have twice been rejected by Highland councillors, triggering a public inquiry on whether or not to permit growth to go forward.
The three-day listening to by Scottish Authorities officers began on Tuesday in Rosehall Village Corridor.
The brand new growth has been “fiercely opposed” by residents of the close by communities of Rosehall, Altass and Brae and by wind farm marketing campaign group No Ring of Metal (NORoS), which has fought comparable developments throughout the Highlands.
They notice that, if authorised, Strath Oykel could be the fifth wind farm to be constructed within the space and would be a part of the present 34 generators on the Rosehall and Achany wind farms.
Earlier this 12 months permission was granted for an extra two websites on the Achany Extension and Meall Buidhe.
Opponents of the Strath Oykel website say it might have a “enormous influence” on salmon and endangered freshwater pearl mussels within the close by River Oykel, which is a Particular Space of Conservation (SAC), specifically on account of plans for a brand new bridge over the river to allow building.
Different fears embrace the nuisance of pink aviation lights atop the constructions and the potential shadow flicker from spinning blades, in addition to considerations over current plans which reportedly present an entry route “slicing by residents’ gardens and animal paddocks.”
They’ve complained of a “relentless march” of wind developments and say they’ve been pressured to determine a ‘combating fund’ so as to rent a planning knowledgeable to signify them on the inquiry listening to.
A spokesperson for NORoS, stated: “Strath Oykel will see generators 200 metres tall, which might be amongst a number of the largest constructions ever inbuilt Scotland.
“To place it into perspective, they are going to be 3 times as tall because the Wallace Monument and located only a brief distance from folks’s houses.
“We perceive the necessity for extra renewable vitality sources, however our group is now at a tipping level with the variety of wind farm developments, and we had no different choice however to make a stand.
“That is very a lot a ‘David V Goliath’ state of affairs, a small group going up in opposition to a German vitality firm listed on the inventory change.
“Now we have been combating this software for 3 years and it has price us hundreds to make our voice heard.
“However we’re decided to make our case to the Scottish Authorities that sufficient is sufficient and different extra appropriate websites have to be discovered for a majority of these mega wind farm developments.”
Energie Kontor UK has been approached for remark.
Fears of ‘devastating’ influence on tourism
Tracey Smith, an area tourism enterprise proprietor, added: “The cumulative influence of this growth going forward can have devastating penalties for the native economic system, which is closely reliant on rural tourism.
“Though we’re a small group we have now two motels, two B&Bs, a number of self-catering properties and lots of native companies providing outside actions.
“However mega developments just like the Strath Oykel windfarm danger destroying the day-to-day lives of those that stay right here and the numerous companies who rely upon tourism.”
The Strath Oykel Wind Farm public inquiry opened at Rosehall Village Corridor on Tuesday and can final till Thursday 26 October.
The group listening to session is on Thursday from 4.30pm and is anticipated to final till 7.30pm.
