The Corse Hill Wind Farm Community Group formed to take advantage of funding from a proposed Angus wind farm has appealed for input from local organisations.
If plans for the seven-turbine development, between Arbroath and Carnoustie are approved, residents stand to benefit from funds generated by a “community turbine,” which could provide up to £75,000 in its first year.
To access the pot, the firm behind the project West Coast Energy has asked that a single membership group representing all organisations with an interest in securing funding is set up.
Ian Watson, of Arbroath Community Council, is one of the members of the committee, which includes representatives from Timmergreens Action Group, Association of Residents of Cliffburn and Hayshead (ARCH), Bruce Road Community Flat and an Arbirlot resident.
He said, “We have formed a group and are hoping to represent as much of the community as possible to take care of the community aspects of the Corse Hill development. We have agreement from West Coast Energy to go forward and have been given their full support.”
It is hoped the CAFE Project in Arbroath may also get on board, alongside local groups from Carnoustie.
Carnoustie Community Centre Action Group has already expressed an interest in accessing the funding, to go towards the construction of a community hub on the site of the former Kinloch Primary School.’One voice'”We are hopeful we can get groups from both Arbroath and Carnoustie involved, and we have made contact with the community council in Carnoustie,” said Mr Watson.
“West Coast are keen to have all the groups looking for funding covered under one umbrella, so when it comes to meetings there can be one voice.”
He continued, “It is a lot of money that is on offer and the planning and development director, Stephen Salt, seems to be a genuine person.
“Any project that puts between £4.7 million and £6 million into the local economy has to be welcomed. Angus Council doesn’t have the finances to help every community project that comes along, so it is important to make the best use of funding when it becomes available.”
West Coast Energy plans to site the 126m turbines at farmland on Corse Hill, near Hatton Farm and Netherkelly Farm, next to the Hatton wastewater treatment works.VisibleEach of the machines would be about the same height as the vertical blade tip on the two at the Michelin plant at Baldovie in Dundee, and would be clearly visible from the A92 dual carriageway.
The wind farm as a whole would have the capacity to produce up to 15.5 megawatts, with each turbine having a 2.5 megawatt capacity.
It is expected between £75,000 and £100,000 could be produced each year for initiatives in Arbroath and Carnoustie, with that rising to between £300,000 and £400,000 when the wind farm is fully paid.
Of the £21 million spent on the six-month build, an estimated £4.2 milllion will be ploughed into the local economy through the use of contractors, engineers and area materials.
Although the space being leased for the development is 222 hectares, the wind farm will only use 2.2 hectares.