white lee wind farm information leaflet
TRANSCRIPT
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Whitelee Windfarm
Information Leaflet
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Illustrations and Layout by Turnbull Jeffrey Partnership Ltd. : Visitors Centre Image by Building Design Partnership : Photomontage by Envision Ltd.
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Proposed Whitelee Windfarm development
ScottishPower has now submitted an application to build and
operate a windfarm at Whitelee Forest, south of Glasgow. This leaflet
provides information on some key points identified during the
environmental assessment process and which are reported fully in
the Environmental Statement. Details on where to view the
Environmental Statement and how to obtain copies of the Non
Technical Summary or further information are provided at the end
of this leaflet.
Over the past 6 months we have consulted with over 75
organisations and groups, including 25 local community councils,
and spoken with some 300 local people at a series of exhibitions.
During this consultation the design of the windfarm has evolved inresponse to comments received, allowing it to be fully optimised
taking into account all environmental, technical and local criteria.
ScottishPower is committed to ensuring windfarm development at
Whitelee Forest is sensitively designed with regard to local
communities and the environment. We have sought not just to
minimise any effects, but also to enhance the local environment
through improved wildlife habitats and access for public recreation.
The Environmental Statement
A comprehensive Environmental Statement accompanies the
application. It reports the findings of the thorough environmental
assessment process that has evaluated all potential environmental
effects of windfarm development at this site. It includes details of
design features and practical measures to minimise any adverse
effects or disturbance, and addresses issues raised during
consultation. It also confirms the substantial environmental benefits
that the project will bring.
The Environmental Statement addresses the following topics:
landscape and visual amenity
ecology archaeology and cultural heritage
noise
forestry
local employment
land use and ownership
tourism and amenity
aircraft
telecommunications and television
transport and traffic
air and climate
hydrology, soils and geology
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Renewable energy and wind power
Renewable energy sources are natural energy sources such as
sunlight, wind, waves and tides, which are continuously replenished
and will never run out. Of these renewables, windpower is the
most economical and technically advanced. It offers global benefits
in terms of electricity generation that is free from emissions of
carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas associated with global
climate change) and other pollutants. It also provides diversity and
therefore security in UK energy supplies by reducing dependency
on imported fossil fuels such as coal.
Scotland now generates around 11 per cent of its electricity from
renewable sources, and the Scottish Executive has set a target of
increasing this to 18 per cent by the year 2010. This will requireapproximately 500 new wind turbines in Scotland balanced
between a few large and a number of smaller windfarms. This
target, and windfarm development on this scale, are essential
elements in the governments strategy for tackling global climate
change and meeting its international obligations to reduce carbon
dioxide emissions.
Whitelee Forest site selection and design
Whitelee Forest was selected following an exhaustive process to
identify promising large and small windfarm sites in Scotland. It
emerged as a site with excellent potential for a large windfarm.
The 140 turbines proposed would generate enough electricity to
supply 150,000 homes - about one third of Scotlands renewables
target alone. This would cut annual emissions of carbon dioxide by
around 540,000 tonnes.
The site is large and open, and ideally located close to the Central
Belt in an area with good grid connections and markets for
electricity. Development Plans for the area identify it as being
suitable for windfarm development, and with no especially sensitive
ecology or landscape features.
Although a large windfarm, the turbines and infrastructure only
take up around 2 per cent of the overall development area - and
once operational the land can continue to be used right up to the
turbine bases.
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Site Location and Access Points
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Construction
Construction will begin immediately following consent for the
windfarm and be phased over two years, with phase one operational
and generating electricity by the end of the first year. The length of
the construction period, even for such a large windfarm, is much
less than for conventional power station construction projects.
Activities are not continuous and are largely restricted to the site
itself. Decommissioning and removal of the turbines at the end of
their useful life, about 25 years, is similarly straightforward and the
land can be fully re-instated to its previous condition.
During the two-year construction phase around 300 jobs will be
createdand some 12 million in construction contracts will beavailable.
Traffic management
The main impacts occurring during construction result from short-
term, temporary, increased traffic movements. These can be
addressed effectively by a traffic management plan. The plan forthe proposed Whitelee Windfarm development will include
Photomontage of proposed Wind Turbines
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restricting access for construction traffic to the western end of the
site near Lochgoin via the A77/M77 road, thus completely avoiding
Eaglesham village. In addition, HGV traffic on the main road network
will be significantly reduced by sourcing stone for road construction
from sensitively located on-site borrow pits.
A second access to the site will be provided at the eastern Ardochrig
end to allow delivery of materials for the substation and the eastern-
most turbines only. Again, this access route will completely avoidEaglesham village.
Landscape and visual
Visibility is perhaps the most obvious effect of an operating
windfarm. In response to consultation, the turbine layout has been
repeatedly revised and tested against computer generated images
to minimise visibility from local viewpoints and residences. The
proposed layout represents the optimum in terms of visibility, energy
recovery and technical and environmental constraints.
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Wildlife and ecology
Experience from existing windfarms has shown that wildlife can
co-exist very well with wind turbines, and that windfarms provide
an opportunity to improve local habitats and ecology. At Whitelee
Forest we are working closely with landowners, including West of
Scotland Water and Forest Enterprise, to restore eight square
kilometers of forestry to moorland, to restructure the remaining
forest, and to provide more diverse and attractive habitats for local
wildlife.
Recreational improvements
We have taken into account the views of local people and
incorporated plans for improved access via a new network of
footpaths, cycleways and bridleways. These are being designed to
maximise recreational opportunities while simultaneously
respecting the privacy of nearby residents. The plans also include a
visitor centre providing information and displays on renewable
energy and sustainable development.
Artists impression of Visitor Centre
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Recreation/Access Network
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Windfarm operation and communities
ScottishPower has eleven windfarms operating successfully in
diverse areas throughout the UK and Ireland. Windfarm
development is a long-term commitment and we play an integral
part in the communities in which we operate. The company has
set up community or sponsorship funds at all of these windfarm
sites. These benefit local communities by supporting projects of an
environmental, educational or charitable nature. A similar fund will
be established for communities here.
Public opinion
Public attitudes to windfarms consistently show the majority of
people favour wind energy. Recent Scottish Executive research
found that most residents living close to windfarms do not
experience any problems, and that problems anticipated before
construction did not materialise.
Responses to a survey carried out this summer during the public
exhibitions around the proposed Whitelee Windfarm mirror thesefindings. Around 65 per cent of visitors who filled in a questionnaire
were in favour of this site for a windfarm. Only 11 per cent were
against, and the remainder were undecided.
Some 150 people have accepted our invitation to visit an operational
windfarm and to see and hear it for themselves. It is hoped this will
allay any apprehensions people may have. Visits will be organised
within the next few weeks. Please contact us if you missed the
exhibitions and would like to take part in these visits.
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Planning application and next steps
The planning application and Environmental Statement have been
submitted to the Scottish Executive by CRE Energy (a wholly owned
subsidiary of ScottishPower responsible for windfarm development).
The application will now be considered by the Executive and local
authorities, together with representations from local people and
other consultees before a decision is made.
Local opinion is important and you are invited to submit yourcomments in writing to the Scottish Executive. You should also
copy any correspondence to your local authority. To assist you,
contact details are provided on the back page of this leaflet.
ScottishPower will be holding further exhibitions in the local area
and details will be made available once these are confirmed. In the
meantime, the full Environmental Statement and a Non Technical
Summary are available for you to view at council offices andlocations as follows:
East Renfrewshire Council, Eastwood Park,
Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock
South Lanarkshire Council, Civic Centre, East
Kilbride
East Ayrshire Council , 6 Croft Street ,
Kilmarnock Kilmarnock, Dick Institute Library, Elmbank
Avenue
Newmilns, Newmilns Library, Craigview Road
Newton Mearns, Mearns Community Library,
McKinley Place Eaglesham, Eaglesham Community Library,
Montgomery Hall
Darvel, Darvel Post Office, 15 East Main Street
East Kilbride, East Kilbride Central Library,
Olympia Shopping Mall Strathaven, Strathaven Library, Glasgow Road
If you have any further questions about the
proposals, or wish a copy of the Non Technical
Summary, please contact:
Debbie Harper
ScottishPower
Strategic Transactions
Cathcart Business Park
Spean Street
Glasgow, G44 4BE
Tel 0141 568 4418/4419
Fax 0141 568 4499
email [email protected]
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Proposed Whitelee Windfarm development
Contact details for responses to planning application
Please address any correspondence on the proposals to the Scottish
Executive and copy it to your local planning authority at the
addresses below. ScottishPower also welcomes the opportunity to
respond to any issues you may have and our address for
correspondence is repeated below for your information.
Scottish Executive
Energy Branch 1
Meridian Court
5 Cadogan StreetGlasgow
G2 6AT
East Renfrewshire Council
Planning and Development ServicesEastwood Park
Rouken Glen Road
Giffnock
East Renfrewshire
G46 6UG
South Lanarkshire Council
Enterprise Resources
Civic Centre
East Kilbride
G74 1AB
East Ayrshire Council
Department of Development Services
6 Croft Street
Kilmarnock
KA1 1JB
ScottishPower
Strategic Transactions
Cathcart Business Park
Spean Street
Glasgow
G44 4BE