Turbine plan fails to get planning backing

A PLAN to build a windfarm in rural Aberdeenshire has failed to win crucial backing from council officials after running into strong opposition from neighbours.

Aberdeenshire planning officers have recommended councillors reject proposals for a series of 300ft turbines across two-and-a-half acres of land near Auchnagatt.

Local farmer David Smith had originally planned to build nine masts, but this was scaled down to four last year after complaints from residents.

Now the number of turbines has been dropped to three, but the bid has still attracted 24 complaints from people living in the surrounding area.

Residents say the development will be loud and ugly and could spoil the local landscape.

Planning officials have agreed that the turbines are “unacceptable” and are advising members of the Buchan area committee to reject the scheme at their meeting tomorrow.

A spokeswoman for the planning department said: “Having carefully considered all the issues, it is concluded that the overall impact of this development would be unacceptable, both in terms of the overbearing effect on houses nearby and within the wider landscape.”

She said the windfarm could “detrimentally change the character of this agricultural heartland part of Aberdeenshire”.

Mr Smith, of Cloffrickford Farm, already has planning permission to put up four turbines at Skelmonae Farm, near Methlick.

The new devices would be built at Cloffrickford, Skilmafilly and Denmore and would link up with the Skelmonae project.