Press Releases

CLPG Press Release 19th November 2003

CLPG urges all residents in Fife to take the opportunity to view the Environmental Statement submitted to Fife Council by Scottish Power.  This site is not environmentally acceptable for many reasons; firstly, this wind power station would be erected on an area designated by Fife Council as an Area of Great Landscape Value.  This wind power station will be seen from as far as away as Dundee and Berwick because of the monumental size of each turbine being 300 feet high.  For the first time ever in Scotland these turbines will be 700 metres close to residents.  One of CLPG’s greatest concerns is that this development will only be the first of many in Fife; it is common practice once the infrastructure is in place for wind power stations to be extended.  The Environmental Statement is biased and contains many inaccuracies according to the Group.  A spokesperson for the Group said, “As we put together our detailed objections, we will try to show how this statement has no basis upon which to judge the planning application.  What is needed is a genuinely independent assessment of the local impact.  The only views considered were within 3 kilometres of the turbine sites.  “They were all considered adverse, what the Statement ignores is that there are 4 villages and 35 farm settlements with groups of cottagers living within 3 kilometres.  So the impact will be adverse on hundreds of nearby residents.  It doesn’t stop there.  The turbines are as high as the Statue of Liberty.  They will dominate the landscape of central Fife.  Is this what should happen to an officially designated area of great landscape value?”  “People must object to this proposal before it’s too late.” 

Not only will seventeen 93 metres turbines be erected but also a sub power station will be built 300 metres from existing homes, 4 quarries will be opened on site, and overhead cables taken to Dunniface.  10,500 vehicle movements have been guestimated by Scottish Power through the narrow streets of Windygates, Kennoway and to the site on the Cults Road.  Roundabouts and walls will be dismantled and all vehicles will have to be removed from these roads.  Long Goods Vehicles of approximately 100 feet in length, passing two Primary School routes, will carry the turbines.  The turbines will have Police Escorts but the day-to-day traffic will not.  

The long eared owls, the whooper swans and many other species will suffer at the hands of Scottish Power but most of all mere humans will suffer daily disturbance to their lives whilst, and long after, this industrial development is built.

The Clatto Landscape Protection Group also contests Scottish Power’s ornithology findings.  A Spokesperson for the group says, “how can you believe that turbine blade tips travelling at 150 mph will not kill birds.  Locals will tell you that the whooper swans from Clatto reservoir do sometimes fly over the proposed turbine site.” 

In the study the timescale is 10 months when asked at a recent exhibition Scottish Power would not commit to answering questions on timescales – if they are so intent in asking us to believe their Environmental Study why would they not answer such a simple question. 

In the Environmental Study, Scottish Power openly admits the disturbance the above and much more will cause.  What will it bring to Fife – no sustainable employment, no renewable energy – all energy goes direct to the National Grid. It will bring money to the area, but only for the 6 greedy Landowners who obviously care nothing about their environment and have little regard for their neighbours. 

If you wish to contact Clatto Landscape Protection Group for more information please contact us at

clpg@tesco.net

or telephone number 07890 156 680 

or visit our web site www.clatto.org.uk