Planners turn down Kilncadzow windfarm bid

The Hill Rig Windfarm plans attracted 165 lettters of opposition, and now cuncillors on South Lanarkshire Council’s planning committee have rejected Community Windpower’s application.

Councillors accepted that the wind farm would have an unacceptable impact on people during their daily lives, and would lead to unacceptable noise levels.

And given the “already extensive” wind farm developments nearby, and the number of single turbines in the surrounding area, they agreed that the site was unsuitable for a windfarm – there were fears of “turbine creep”.

Community Windpower had wanted to erect eight turbines, each with a blade tip height of up to 130 metres, in a windfarm lasting 25 years.

The council’s own environmental services department had concerns about the noise levels in the area, there were concerns about safeguarding Glasgow airport, and an objection from the National Air Traffic Services, and a consultative group called Countryside and Greenspace were concerned about the visial impact, stating that the height of the turbine towers was excessive and inappropriate to the site.

Carluke Community Council objected due to the scale of the windfarm and its proximity to local residents and the noise impact on people and animals.

And it also pointed to the cumulative effect that “the area has reached saturation point with the additional Black Law extension and Heathland wind farms”. The Royal Burgh of Lanark Community Council also objected as the turbines would dominate the landscape.

In the general consultation eight letters of support were received – seven from businesses outwith the area – and 165 objections were received, from residents in Yieldshields, Carluke, Forth, Carnwath, Auchengray and Tarbrax, as well as from further afield.