Windcrofting Meeting

Rory Cowan

Oliver Hughes of Vigor (www.vigorrenewables.co.uk ) led the meeting to discuss the projected wind turbines in Sliddery. The proposal has been turned down by NAC, but there are further plans to be considered. More than anything Mr Hughes, an ex-merchant banker, was setting out to educate us as to what he was doing on Arran with his firm. He stressed the fact that his company is NOT American and that he was not setting out to plaster windmills across the island. He has three projects which have been running for a little time now. The one in Sliddery has been declined by Planning but is likely to appeal. Mr Hughes is working with Proven Energy on the projects on Arran, but there is no financial relationship between the companies and he works with other companies as well in different parts of the country. He described the projects in some detail in terms of feed-in tarriffs, visual and audible impact etc. Interestingly, he asked how many people at the meeting were pro wind energy. From where I sat it seemed that all but one were in favour. The single dissenter had got her figures together well and was philosophical about the way matters were headed.

The definition of a windfarm apparently is 3 or more turbines in proximity and linked as a project or by ownership. However, there is no definition of ‘proximity.’ Another matter which certainly appeared to be controversial was the lack of joined up policy for the councils to work to. Some think 700 metres from nearest un-associated habitation is OK. Others think 500 metres and some think 200 metres. North Ayrshire seems to have no policy yet, as far as is known.