The Clatto Landscape Protection Group Working to protect Clatto Hill from industrial development       Get in touch: clpg@tesco.net News Clatto Hill faq Resources

In October 2003, Scottish Power applied for planning permission for 17 wind turbines, each 93 metres (300 feet) tall, and four “borrow pits”, or quarries, to remove about 80,000 cubic metres of stone.

Clatto Hill is the high (248 metres) ground south of the Howe of Fife, north of Leven, east of Glenrothes, west of Cupar. Although not well known by name, the skyline of Clatto Hill is visible from most of the Howe of Fife and much of the low ground between Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes and Leven. There are excellent views of it from Hill of Tarvit, Falkland, East Lomond and Largo Law. There are 35 farm settlements with small groups of cottages and four villages within 3 kilometres of Clatto Hill. 

An industrial development on such a site runs counter to the Council's planning policies. The main sources of renewable energy in the future will come from the sea: wave, tide and offshore wind power.  The power companies view onshore wind power as a short term, relatively cheap way to meet their renewable obligation. But they don't have to worry about the impact of their giant turbines on communities. Government policy states that: “In relation to the local community, developments should not be permitted where they would have a significant long term detrimental impact on the amenity of people living nearby, and where the impact cannot be mitigated satisfactorily.”

What to do if you want to object to the proposal

Write a letter of objection, but make sure that it will count.

Planning Permission is a legal process, Fife Council can only take strictly planning matters into account when it makes a decision. Your objection must relate to the way the law works, for instance, you may think that the value of your property would be affected by this proposal, but this is not a “valid” objection under the law as it stands.

Valid objections are therefore mainly going to concern:

·       A significant adverse effect on the local community (visual, noise, health, recreation, etc)

·       Effects on the environment, wildlife, etc

·       Visual impact (the site is within an Area of Great Landscape Value)

·       Defects in the Environmental Statement submitted by Scottish Power as part of their application.

Send your letter to:

Head of Development Services, Fife Council, Fife House, North Street, Glenrothes, KY7 5LT

Quote reference number 03/03397/EEIA

Other things you can do

Get informed: Renewable energy is a complex affair, and there are many contentious issues hidden under its green clothes, involving politics, big business and your electricity bills.

Talk to your Community Council, Fife councillor, MSP…these are the people who will be making a decision on your behalf. Make sure they know your feelings.