Planning now in for Clachan Wind Farm

[NickB]

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Mr Young has now submitted his planning application for Clachan windfarm. Ref 11/02447/PP.

His application is for :- 'a windfarm comprising of 9 turbines (77 metres to blade tip), construction compound, substation, formation of access tracks and ancillary works'. If you wish to comment then you should do so reasonably soon, as there is a time constraint of a few weeks. You can do this either by writing to: Richard Kerr, Principal Planning Officer, Argyll & Bute Council, Dalriada House, Lochnell Street, Lochgilphead PA31 8ST.

Or you can do it on line via THIS PAGE on the A&B Council website. Type in reference 11/02447/PP. Click 'Make Public Comment'.

[Maggie]

I read the other day that Global Warming is not happening any more so I don't see the point of windfarms now.
I think I'll object because the plan will ruin our views, crash our house values, kill birds, keep us awake at night, and cause health problems for us all and all for no reason now.

mags
x

[NickB]

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You shouldn't believe everything you read Maggie

[Maggie]

Please don't condescend me.

mags
x

[Gavin Rae]

Nick

Isn't there some truth in what maggie says !!! ?????

Or are you on the wind up ?


I excuse your spelling and apologise for mine but it's still snowing !!!

Snoman

[NickB]

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Snoman,

I am not aware of any credible evidence that global warming has stopped. The 'evidence' that global warming 'sceptics' produce for this is that there has - according to the way they choose to interpret the data - been no warming since 1998. This is because 1998 was the hottest year ever - so far. There was an exceptionally strong El Nino event that year. The vast majority of climate scientists are convinced that global warming continues apace, with a substantial heat build-up continuing in the oceans.

Here's an example of the way the same data can be interpreted in different ways according to ones' agenda:



I am sure that Maggie did read somewhere that global warming had stopped. There is a strong coterie of right-wing 'libertarian' bloggers who have considerable influence with the right wind media here (Mail, Telegraph) and in the USA (Fox News, Wall St Journal). I expect Maggie has been reading James Delingpole (Telegraph blogger) or some similarly unqualified source.

So - object to the windfarm if you want, but do not do so in the mistaken belief that it is no longer necessary to decarbonise our economy. Apart from anything else, that argument is unlikely to cut much ice with the planners. I would stick to the landscape issues.

[DiscoClint]

I thought the primary reason for building windfarms was to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, thereby allowing us to stop bending over backwards for rogue, oil-rich states? Oh, and to also have an alternative energy source when we run out of fossil fuels.

Did I get the wrong end of the stick? Didn't realize people were even still debating global warming....although I suppose the age of the earth is still debated in uneducated circles.

If I got the right end of the stick, how many wind farms do you need to replace the output of an average power station. I'm guess quite a lot.

Bring on the windmills! Shame they are so d@arned expensive.

[Gavin Rae]

Hi Nick

Let me clarify my position on global warming !
I agree totally with you on this issue

BUT

Surely you agree with Maggi's comments about the environmental issues that we could be faced with if this wind farm plan is approved ?

A misunderstanding?

Snoman

[NickB]

Surely you agree with Maggi's comments about the environmental issues that we could be faced with if this wind farm plan is approved ?

Not really. Or at least not with many of them. I don't expect anyone to get ill, unless they make themselves ill with worry - several studies have shown that there is no evidence for a set of health effects, from exposure to wind turbines that could be characterized as a "Wind Turbine Syndrome." And I will be very surprised if anyone even in the nearest houses is kept awake by noise. The bird thing is another myth. You simply don't find piles of dead birds under wind turbines - unless the turbines are on a migratory route, and this is usually picked up at the scoping stage nowadays and kills a project instantly.

That leaves us with - from Maggie's objections - house prices and views. I agree that house prices could be marginally affected in some cases. In Denmark the developers compensate householders for any drop in property values. It is a pity they do not do so here, as apart from anything else I am sure it would greatly reduce opposition to windfarms - and would not make much of a dent in the operators' profits.

To my mind the main reason to object to this development - from Maggie's list - is that it is in an area of scenic value - and at 10MW its contribution to emissons reduction is miniscule. However, everyone thinks that their area is special, which is why there is always opposition to windfarms. I suspect this will be chucked out by the planners, but if it does go ahead I predict that we will all get used to it pretty quickly. I was worried that I could see all the turbines from my garden in Balvicar - but then I realised that if I held my arm out and extended my thumb I could hide them all behind it.

[Gavin Rae]

Nick

I value your honesty on this subject !!!

Whilst we might be able to put up a finger in Balvicar and blot out the wind farm I fear that you might be talking about a large hand if you live in Clachan Seil !!!

Clearly Snoman is a 'Nimby' !! But I can live with that !!!

[Pentlandpirate]

If you want an idea of how a windfarm can change a beautiful landscape, have you seen the massive windfarm half way down the A74? I thought these things were supposed to be discretely tucked away but there they brazenly confront every visitor on a giant scale in and out of Scotland. Although of a smaller size, the Clachan windfarm will similarly confront every traveller and visitor in and out of Seil.
And for what? Who really needs it apart from Mr Young who doesn't even live in the area?

[NickB]

If you want an idea of how a windfarm can change a beautiful landscape, have you seen the massive windfarm half way down the A74? I thought these things were supposed to be discretely tucked away but there they brazenly confront every visitor on a giant scale in and out of Scotland. Although of a smaller size, the Clachan windfarm will similarly confront every traveller and visitor in and out of Seil.
And for what? Who really needs it apart from Mr Young who doesn't even live in the area?

Don't know what you mean.

I often drive down the A74 through what is very average countryside, and the wind turbines make a welcome break. They are in scale with and bring a little dynamism to a rather uninspiring landscape.

Seil is quite different.

[Maggie]

Well, whatever you say, I did read that Global Warming has stopped. In fact I've heard it on the radio and on the news.
Also I've now looked at your graph and it shows that Global Warming has stopped SIX times and, if you look at your graph it has stopped now. The big difference is it has NOT RESTARTED!
Then I read this in Wednesday's Scotsman:
"The Met Office’s latest findings, from 30,000 measuring stations, shows the world climate, despite India and China pumping out massive amounts of carbon dioxide, has not warmed at all during the last 15 years."

I think most people would rather believe the Scotsman than believe a bloke down the pub ie here!

mags
x
ps what has rightwing newspapers got to do with it? As far as I know I've never read one in my life.
pps you appear to be in favour of Clachan Windfarm. Are you?
ppps I will look out for someone walking around all day with his arm stuck out and his thumb up

[NickB]

pps you appear to be in favour of Clachan Windfarm. Are you?

I'm neutral on the issue. My interest in it is limited to facilitating discussion.

[Minimum]

Dr. Henderson seems to know a lot about the health effects from wind turbines. Perhaps we should take note of what he says rather than dismiss the notion as Nick suggests.

[MonaLott]

How do we get to read what he says? I've looked at the Council website given by Nick and just see a relatively small list of names of commenters. How do you see what they've said?

[Minimum]

Try these:

http://www.clachanwindfarm.co.uk/?p=36#comment-212

http://www.communitiesagainstturbinessc ... om/health/

[abelincoln2]

yip, I heard that global warming was'nt happening, and fossil fuels will last another million years, and wind farms wo'nt work on Seil, wrong kind of wind appartently.

NIMBY who said that

[NickB]

How do we get to read what he says? I've looked at the Council website given by Nick and just see a relatively small list of names of commenters. How do you see what they've said?

If you want to read the comments then you need to click on the 'Documents' tab then click 'View Associated Documents'. There seem to be a lot of objections from folk living in London and points South.

[MonaLott]

Thanks for that info, Nick. Not sure I agree with your summary of the submissions though. Early days too.