Glenorchy & Innishail Community Council

 

Chair:   Alan W Thomas                                   Secretary:         Kate Craig

            Afon Orchy                                                                  Tower of Glenstrae

            Glen Orchy                                                                   Loch Awe

            By Dalmally                                                                  Argyll PA33

            Argyll PA33 1BD

            01838 200490                                                             01838 200285

 

Energy Consents Unit

Scottish Executive

2nd floor

Meridian Court

5 Cadogan Street

Glasgow G2 6AT                                                                     14th April 2006

 

Dear Sir/ Madam,

 

Shira Wind Farm application by Shira Wind Limited – Shira, near Dalmally, Argyll (Grid Reference NN1722)

 

Electricity Act 1989

Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997

The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000

 

The Glenorchy and Innishail Community Council wish to record an objection to the above application, on the following grounds.

 

i.                     Unacceptable visual impact, particularly from Lochawe Village and other directions.

 

ii.                   Unacceptable cumulative impact, when Stacain wind farm (17 turbines to be located directly alongside the Shira windfarm) and other approved and proposed wind farms in Argyll are taken into account.

 

iii.                  Likely negative effect on tourism to this area and related jobs.

 

iv.                 Unacceptable effect on environment and wild life.

 

v.                   Contrary to Argyll & Bute Structure Plan Policies and Lorn Local Plan policies.

 

One Community Council member wished to record her support for the proposal.

 

The proposal was discussed at an open meeting of the Community Council in Dalmally Village Hall on 12th April 2006 and opinion was divided, with a majority of those present (36 persons) being in favour of the proposal.

 

The Community Council members noted that this view may not be representative of the views of other parts of the Community Council area, including Lochawe, where the majority opinion appeared to be against the proposal.

 

It was noted at the meeting that individual members of the public may send letters of support or objection to the Scottish Executive Consents Unit.

 

The Community Council members have taken note of their responsibilities to ‘express the views of the community it represents; and to take such action in the interests of the community as appears to be expedient’. (Ref.  Argyll & Bute Council – Constitution for the operation of Community Councils).  They also noted that ‘whilst Community Councils may be strongly influenced by the views of others, it is an individual’s responsibility alone to decide what view to take on any question which a Community Council has to decide’.  (Ref.  Argyll & Bute Council – Community Councils Code of Practice)

 

On the basis of the above, Glenorchy & Innishail Community Council wish to record their objection to the above application.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

Alan W Thomas                                                           Kate Craig

Chair                                                                            Secretary