On the agenda at the National Park Planning and Access Committee meeting on Monday 24th November, is the National Park Authority’s response to the Giant’s Burn Wind Farm application. The response concludes that the National Park Authority objects to the proposal for the following reasons:

1, Significant change in scale and proximity of windfarm development
to the National Park. The proposal would introduce a windfarm
development of significant scale (up to 200m in height) close to (2.7km
from) the National Park boundary.

2. Significant adverse effects on the Special Landscape Qualities of
the National Park. Such a large-scale wind farm in the open upland
area within the Cowal Hills behind Dunoon will result in significant
adverse effects on the Special Landscape Qualities of the National Park.

3. Significant effects on visual amenity. The wind farm would be a
dominant feature that would have a significant adverse impact upon the
open views and visual amenity for residents, visitors and recreational
users in the southwestern area of the National Park.

4. Significant effects on landscape character. The windfarm will have
significant adverse effects on the landscape character of the Steep
Ridgeland and the adjacent Mountains Glens Landscape (Landscape
Character Type 4) covering Strath Eachaig, Kilmun, Strone, and
southern edge of Loch Eck.

5. The proposal is contrary to National Planning Framework 4, Policy
4 Natural Places part c). The location, scale, type and proximity of the
windfarm to the National Park boundary will compromise the objectives
and integrity of the designation and the significant adverse effects are
not outweighed by any social, environmental or economic benefits of
national importance.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

With thousands of self-righteous, hypocritical, millionaire delegates jetting in to COP30 in Brazil to tell the rest of us what to do. What comes next? Prominent German energy expert Dr Lars Schernikau has said: “The energy transition in its current form, as a grid-scale build out of wind and solar with the goal to replace oil, coal and gas, is probably one of the greatest mistakes that humanity has ever made.”

Millions of ageing wind turbines and solar panels have now passed their use-by dates and are on their way to landfills. While steel, aluminium, copper and other metals can be scavenged from what’s left of a wind turbine carcass, the 10-30 tonne blades filled with highly toxic Bisphenol-a are cut up, crushed and dumped, often illegally.

Solar panels are also secretly buried. Despite claims about panels being recycled, they never are.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) calculates solar panel waste will reach 78 million metric tonnes by 2050!

The pathetically short life expectancy of a wind turbine or solar panel compares miserably with the multigenerational life expectancy of a nuclear-powered plant.

Before we wreck our precious landscapes and seascapes any further, it must be urgently asked, who will constantly renew the “renewables”, and at what astronomical and ecological cost?

George Herraghty, Elgin, Moray

We realise that the Energy Consents Unit website is not user-friendly to navigate to read objections, so for anyone who wishes to read the details of our SCH formal objection we have posted it here for you.

Scotland’s wild places are full of energy

There are the thousands of people who live in rural communities in harmony with the land. There are the countless ramblers, climbers, cyclists, runners that enjoy respite and adventure in our precious wild places.

And, of course, there are the hundreds of wind turbines, pylons, and associated infrastructure that are producing so much energy that Scotland is now exporting electricity. 

These windfarms are contributing to the nation’s net zero objectives. But at what cost? Wild places, rural communities and those who visit for pleasure are paying the price, while massive energy companies line their pockets.

It’s time to have an honest conversation about what is happening to the country’s wildest landscapes.

The John Muir Trust believes there is a way forward that allows us to power the future and protect the wild.

Join the nationwide campaign to Protect the Wild

Inquiry to investigate proposed wind farm near Largs | Ayrshire Today

The inquiry, led by Alasdair Edwards, was triggered after North Ayrshire Council, as the planning authority, lodged an objection to the Crosbie Wind Farm project on Kaim Hill in Fairlie.

The proposed development by Galileo involves the construction and operation of 14 turbines, each with a tip height of up to 200 metres, and associated infrastructure.

The wind farm is expected to have a generation capacity exceeding 80 megawatts, alongside a battery energy storage facility with a capacity exceeding 50 megawatts.

The project site is located approximately 3.5 km southeast of Largs.

In addition to North Ayrshire Council, various community councils and interest groups have opposed the proposal, citing a range of concerns.

Fairlie Community Council has raised issues related to impacts on residents and wildlife, potential noise pollution, and the destruction of scenic and leisure areas. They have also flagged concerns about the impact on local amenities, peatland, watercourses, light pollution, shadow flicker issues, and air traffic safety.

West Kilbride Community Council has also objected, expressing concerns about the impact on the country park, visual disruption to the skyline, noise, access, ground conditions, public access, and peat.

Friends of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park have also raised objections, including concerns about overdevelopment, industrialisation, turbine scale, recreational loss, visual impact, tourism impact, traffic disruption, and ecological damage.