The Aberdeenshire Wind-Rush

I learn from the latest email-newsletter from CAWT that there is a Formartine Area Committee Meeting on 31st August. Formartine is one of the six areas into which Aberdeenshire is divided, and includes, for example, Turriff; the other five areas are Marr (Huntly), Garioch, Kincardine and Mearns, Buchan, and Banff and Buchan (Foggieloan!).

At this committee meeting, along with a whole lot of other business, no less than four wind-turbine applications are to be considered, comprising altogether ten turbines, all of industrial scale, similar to the ones proposed for Mossford.

(Details at http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees/detail.asp?ref_no=802572870061668E8025764F0044025C - the meeting agenda; see items 13B,C,D,E.)

These things really are going to be popping up like mushrooms, unless we watch out. And heaven knows how the planning system will cope.

The reason for the gold rush is an open secret. Anyone with land in a windy place can apply to put up an 80-metre turbine. In very round figures the cost of the turbine (a million pounds) will be recouped in around 7 years (maybe less). For the rest of the life of the turbine (another 14 years, say) the owner will be reaping a very nice harvest...

(More details at CAWT: http://cawt.co.uk/files/How_turbines_make_money.pdf; to join the CAWT email list send an email to support@cawt.co.uk or telephone 01888 544432.)
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If you are serious about opposing the Mossford scheme, you will need to think about attending the Banff and Buchan Area Committee meeting when the application comes up for consideration. It is too early to say when it will be. Meetings (and their agendas) are advertised on the Aberdeenshire Council website (http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees/index.asp). If no-one comes, the committees tend to take the view that no-one is bothered by the proposals.