tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post6835654233970518582..comments2024-03-18T08:42:30.787+00:00Comments on Chris Townsend Outdoors: The Future of Wild Land in Scotland: Some Thoughts on Government Planning PolicyChris Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-82246227559928750952014-07-03T00:49:23.361+01:002014-07-03T00:49:23.361+01:00This wind farm hasn't been approved yet. Let&#...This wind farm hasn't been approved yet. Let's wait and see. I suspect there will be quite a few test cases. Of course the developers will push it as far as they can. That's inevitable.<br /><br /><br />Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-33422113263353577082014-07-02T22:26:35.522+01:002014-07-02T22:26:35.522+01:00Fig 2.16 says it all really
They are cramming this...Fig 2.16 says it all really<br />They are cramming this wind farm in between an SSSI and a National Scenic Area. <br />Just as I predicted, the developers are going to ghetto-ise the NSAs.<br /><a href="http://www.tab-windfarm.org/downloads/Environmental%20Statement/04%20Volume%204%20-%20%20Figures/02%20Chapter%202%20Design%20Evolution%20and%20Alternatives/08_figures_2-15_2-16_LR.pdf" rel="Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-51337585319242724342014-07-02T21:54:53.774+01:002014-07-02T21:54:53.774+01:00They are also basing the power output for this win...They are also basing the power output for this wind farm on the power curve for a 2.0MW turbine rather than for a 3.0MW turbine that is actually being proposed. <br />But of course, the power curve for a 3.0MW machine will have given substantially lower outputs. <br />Surprised?<br />Of course not.<br />Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-29774993710182968182014-07-02T21:40:08.149+01:002014-07-02T21:40:08.149+01:00Thanks for that, Andy.
From first glance at the de...Thanks for that, Andy.<br />From first glance at the developer's claims for expected carbon dioxide savings it appears that they have performed the classic three card trick.<br />See this chart for reference: <br />Chapter 16 Carbon Balance Assessment, Appendix 16.3 (REPORT - 1058298 - 1 - C) - 1<br />They have assumed that the major bulk of CO2 savings will be from the reduction in emissionsAlan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-51101309079124418082014-07-02T20:21:12.521+01:002014-07-02T20:21:12.521+01:00Well, here we go, Chris. A new application, submit...Well, here we go, Chris. A new application, submitted just as the map was coming out and for a location a few hundred yards outside "wild land" area 14:<br /><br />http://www.tab-windfarm.org/dataroom.html<br /><br />Location map here:<br /><br />http://www.tab-windfarm.org/downloads/Environmental%20Statement/04%20Volume%204%20-%20%20Figures/01%20Chapter%201%20Introduction/02%20Figure%Andy B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-27011521912216201392014-07-02T11:29:49.010+01:002014-07-02T11:29:49.010+01:00It's worth remembering that Scottish Planning ...It's worth remembering that Scottish Planning Policy is a "non-statutory statement of Scottish Government policy". Therefore NPs/NSAs described in SPP Spatial Frameworks as Group 1 - Areas where wind farms will not be acceptable, could feasibly be subject to a planning proposal if a developer wished to proceed. <br /><br />A key question is whether the CAWL map actually offers 'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-76701606670675602132014-06-28T11:02:47.022+01:002014-06-28T11:02:47.022+01:00I am not too sure about Macdui myself, but then wh...I am not too sure about Macdui myself, but then when I'm there I usually don't look back North because the best views are in the other directions! I'd be surprised if you couldn't see the ones around Inverness though. But you're right, the Millennium one is the worst of them all. The views from Glen Affric are blighted, you see it from Creag Meggy quite clearly and Glen Shiel Andy B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-59238355891993870182014-06-27T01:02:04.724+01:002014-06-27T01:02:04.724+01:00And of course I dearly hope you are wrong. Regardi...And of course I dearly hope you are wrong. Regarding Beauly-Denny I can remember trying to persuade people who were against wind farms in the hills that the two were linked. Many didn't see the connection. From Cairn Gorm you can see the wind farm near the Slochd and one out towards the Dava but I don't remember seeing any from Ben Macdui, Mullach Clach a'Bhlair, Cairn Toul, Monadh Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-16005470835769689882014-06-26T23:42:02.619+01:002014-06-26T23:42:02.619+01:00Of course I dearly hope you're right, Chris. I...Of course I dearly hope you're right, Chris. It's true that pylons are highly visible but we all know we got bigger ones thanks to the wind farms! I'm slightly surprised you say that you don't see wind farms from most of the hills you climb. You seem to spend most of your time in the Cairngorms (you lucky b...r!) and the wind farms to the North are also clearly visible from the Andy B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-42429449363288401782014-06-26T23:20:00.730+01:002014-06-26T23:20:00.730+01:00This proposal predates the new planning policy. Wh...This proposal predates the new planning policy. What will be interesting will be to see if it goes ahead or is withdrawn.Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-83113008053656472632014-06-26T20:38:55.351+01:002014-06-26T20:38:55.351+01:00That's obviously not the case - a new proposal...That's obviously not the case - a new proposal for Aberchalder Wind Farm - slap in the middle of an area marked brown on the Wild Map:<br /><br />http://www.aberchalderwindfarm.co.uk/Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-37091735525754205502014-06-26T20:35:43.846+01:002014-06-26T20:35:43.846+01:00Actually I thought that statement was interesting ...Actually I thought that statement was interesting because it seems Scottish Renewables are conceding that there will be no wind farms in NSAs. Hopefully this means their members won't bother proposing any.Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-82829876584405423812014-06-26T20:34:09.164+01:002014-06-26T20:34:09.164+01:00Overall I am optimistic that the worst is past, wh...Overall I am optimistic that the worst is past, which is not to say there won't be more wind farms. I don't see wind farms from most of the hills I climb - pylons are actually more visible. I think these new planning regs at least give some hope for the future and something to work with. We shall see.Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-31247593611432977452014-06-26T20:30:55.405+01:002014-06-26T20:30:55.405+01:00I'm sure some do. David Cameron's father-i...I'm sure some do. David Cameron's father-in-law does - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/windpower/8713128/The-aristocrats-cashing-in-on-Britains-wind-farm-subsidies.htmlChris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-80341552078172021552014-06-26T12:47:55.836+01:002014-06-26T12:47:55.836+01:00From the Telegraph on 23rd June:
"Scottish Re...From the Telegraph on 23rd June:<br /><i>"Scottish Renewables, the trade body representing wind farm companies, said it was essential to strike the right balance between “harnessing our fantastic wind resource and protecting Scotland’s most valued landscapes.”<br />Joss Blamire, its senior policy manager, said: “The Scottish Government needs to ensure the new planning framework does not ruleAlan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-71542315379334373832014-06-25T17:43:49.418+01:002014-06-25T17:43:49.418+01:00It would be interesting to find out if any politic...It would be interesting to find out if any politicians have a financial interest in the manufacturers of wind generators. If so I feel that, if so, these people should be treated in the same way as insider dealers in stocks and shares and prosecuted. I believe our countryside is being destroyed for money, pure and simple. If it was to save the environment then they would be encouraging more Marc_1970https://www.blogger.com/profile/01383487467331810797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-57203780517901576592014-06-25T15:21:39.491+01:002014-06-25T15:21:39.491+01:00Chris, I kept my post (relatively) brief not to cl...Chris, I kept my post (relatively) brief not to clog up the comments section. I did read your piece and I was a bit confused that you end up saying "I am quietly celebrating", notching up what you think is (small) progress towards defending what's left of the Highlands (and beyond: some areas in the Lowlands are far wilder than anything up North!). What the document seems to show isAndy B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-6590979406545679882014-06-25T11:27:57.335+01:002014-06-25T11:27:57.335+01:00Alan and Andy, I think you are both missing the po...Alan and Andy, I think you are both missing the point. Did you read my piece or just assume it was about the wild land map and SNH. It's not. It'a about the Planning Policy and Framework. I make the point in the first paragraph that the map and SNH's comments don't mean anything regarding protection for wild land. <br /><br />Andy, whilst I deplore the decision to build Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-82664457344388989912014-06-25T10:39:16.562+01:002014-06-25T10:39:16.562+01:00I'm afraid I agree with Alan. The SNH map is p...I'm afraid I agree with Alan. The SNH map is pretty meaningless. It includes as wild land areas that cannot by any stretch of the imagination be called wild. It excludes areas that anyone would want to call wild instead. And as the recent decision re Stronelairg has shown (a decision, incidentally, that I would have liked to see flagged on your blog, Chris, if I may put that point to you), Andy B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-82577357198852616432014-06-25T10:09:14.025+01:002014-06-25T10:09:14.025+01:00I fear you're being over optimistic, Chris.
Re...I fear you're being over optimistic, Chris.<br />Reporters deal primarily with law. Guidance can be taken into account but the National Planning Framework will always take precedent over this SNH guidance, and the wind farm developers and the Scottish Government know this. It's a fig-leaf of respectability for the SG to hide behind and the NGOs like MCofS and JMT to cling to.<br /><br />Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com