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Farmer drops Prospect Hill wind turbine plan

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A controversial plan for a single large wind turbine in the heart of the north-east Fife countryside has been dropped by a farmer in the face of strong opposition.

However, it has also been revealed that Andrew Simpson, who had wanted to erect a 48.5-metre turbine at Prospect Hill, will now be pressing ahead with a scheme for a number of smaller turbines at the same site.

The previous application for the site at Balmeadowside Farm was rejected by members of Fife Council’s north-east Fife area committee, and Mr Simpson lodged an appeal with the government’s Directorate of Environmental and Planning Appeals (DPEA).

Now Mr Simpson’s agent, Duncan Oswald of Ecodyn, has told DPEA the appeal is being withdrawn. As a result a site visit planned for later this month has been cancelled.

In the letter withdrawing the appeal Mr Oswald said his client remains committed to the principle of renewable energy generation on the farm but is sensitive to the strongly held views of residents on the visual impact of the proposal.

“He therefore intends to submit a new planning application for a number of smaller turbines, which will hopefully be more acceptable to the local community and to the council, while still contributing to his environmental commitments and those of the Scottish Government to reduce our contribution to climate change,” said Mr Oswald.

If the original application had been approved the turbine would have been capable of generating 100kw of electricity, most of which would be used to power the farm and associated buildings with the remainder going to the National Grid.

Prospect Hill itself overlooks a wide area of open land near Parbroath crossroads, is close to both the main Dundee to Kirkcaldy road and the route between Cupar and Newburgh, and falls within the Lomond Hills Area of Great Landscape Value.

The planning application attracted considerable opposition and 30 letters of opposition, including one from Creich and Flisk Community Council.

The decision of the council committee reflected a recommendation from planning officials, who had said the turbine would be highly visible from the A913.

“It is considered that the size, scale and prominent upland position of the wind turbine, visible from the roadway, would result in a development which creates an overbearing impact on the surrounding rural landscape,” said the report.

It had been claimed by the applicant the turbine would not be visible from any towns and the site was not protected by any habitat designation. In addition, it was said the turbine would be where a telecommunications tower once stood and access could be reinstated.

The appeal claimed that the council had focused entirely on the perceived negative aspects and had failed to take into account the benefits, including the contribution towards carbon reduction.