Scarista House
All favourite
Gaelic songs
Hebrides Shop
Councillors back £108 million giant wind farm for Pairc 21/4/09
Western Isles Council took only a few minutes to back a controversial giant wind farm for South Lochs on Lewis today.
There was no disagreement at the planning committee and none is expected when its position is due to be ratified at the full council next week.
The ultimate decision over the go-
However, the council is the main statutory consultee and energy minister Jim Mather is due to take significant account of the isles’ authority’s view.
The 26 turbines, each 145 metres tall, are half of the what developer Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) wanted.
It has taken SSE years to get to this stage and in 2007 council planning officials opposed a large number of generators said to be badly sited.
SSE was forced to revamp and reduce the development in a desperate bid to avoid a lengthy and costly public inquiry.
The approved machines are on the same sites as recommended by councillors 15 months ago.
Planning official Keith Bray explained that the tracks have been adjusted slightly while there is now only a single vehicular access onto the site as requested by the council
He stressed: “We see no reason for a public inquiry.”
Councillor Philip Mclean said: “There is great concern to some in the community in South Lochs that the application is still here.
Councillors were told that the district community council had lodged an objection but had been in talks over the development
Cllr Annie Macdonald said she “received a number of representations from Kinloch area.
“We would go with what Pairc Community council are saying.“
She stressed that “community benefit in regard to this is very, very important.”
However, the amount of compensation for the community has been delegated to the council officers to agree later.
12 jobs to operate the wind farm would be based in the islands though officials say this would rise to 33 local posts through the investment of royalties and community benefit.
A package of community benefit stands at £306,000 year which would be spilt between
the council-
SSE will pay the crofting estate landlord and crofters rent worth between nearly £7 million and £12 million over 25 years.
It is understood that the Scottish Government has received thousands of objections against the scheme.
Councillors agreed 61 planning conditions including burying all transmission cables underground.
Island fishery bodies have objected fearing large amounts of silt could affect salmon and trout.
Along with Halcrow consultants, they raise concerns over peat slides.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) objects fearing a negative impact on otters.
It is also concerned that it could kill or affect protected species like white-
It adds: “This windfarm would still result in some significant adverse landscape and visual impacts.
“At 145 metres high, these turbines would form very dominant features seen from properties and roads.”
It slams SSE for a “significant omission” in failing to undertake a survey of the cumulative affect with the neighbouring Feiroshbhal wind farm.
It says 28 golden eagles are predicted to be killed from the turbines and its cumulative effect with other proposed schemes.
RSPB says the number of golden eagle kills is “unacceptably high.”
The body points out it may consider withdrawing its objection for less turbines or if the layout was changed to avoid collisions from the eagles.
This is the third time SSE have changed their plans for the Pairc estate.
Originally it wanted to erect 125 turbines but this was slashed to just 57 machines when the official application was lodged in June 2007.
SSE now wants to build just 26 machines across crofting and private moorland in South Lochs.
In December 2007 Western Isles Council refused to pass the whole scheme despite many
councillors lamenting the potential multi-