Go-ahead given for wind turbines near Hamilton

Nov 5 2009 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

THREE giant wind turbines – each more than 100ft higher than Hamilton’s County Buildings – are to be erected on greenbelt land overlooking the town.

Plans for the 335ft. windmills were approved this week despite initial concern that there operation may pose a danger to aircraft.

The wind turbines are to be built on farmland and will produce a total of nine megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 3200 homes.

A quarter of the output will be used to light and heat industrial units at Hamilton Technology Park.

A planning application for the development, submitted by Blantyre Muir Wind Energy Ltd, was considered by South Lanarkshire Council planning committee on Tuesday.

The windmills are earmarked for agricultural land near Laigh Muirhouses Farm on a 323-acre site close to Muttonhole Road and Newhousemill Road.

Access tracks, hard standing, a site office and wind monitoring mast will be built alongside the turbines.

Parts of the windmills will be visible from some areas of Hamilton.

The scheme attracted five letters of objection mainly from people living near the site and 261 letters in support of the application from correspondents all over Lanarkshire and other parts of the Scotland and the United Kingdom.

The objectors complained that the turbines were too high and would detract from the beauty of the area.

There was also concern about access into the site, noise pollution and the threat to “beautiful birds of prey” regularly seen flying over farms in the area.

British Airports Authority (Safeguarding Team) also initially objected to the scheme.

They claimed the three turbines were in the ‘radar line of sight’ to the main data feed radar at Glasgow Airport.

However, BAA later withdrew their objection after it was agreed that the development would not proceed unless measures had been put in place to protect aircraft navigational aids and air traffic control.

Scottish National Heritage also at first objected to the turbines.

They later withdrew the objection but remain concerned about the impact of the scheme on peregrine falcon and curlew populations.

Enterprise director Colin McDowall told councillors that following consultation, the height of the windmills had been reduced from 361 ft. to 335 ft.

The County Buildings in Almada Street is 208ft. high. Each of the 140 turbines at Whitelee wind farm on Eaglesham Moor, East Renfrewshire, are up to 358 ft. high and generate electricity for 150,000 homes.

Mr McDowall said that if planning consent was granted, a “more suitable” access for construction traffic might have to be created.

A condition would also be attached to the application demanding further study of bird habitats and foraging areas before the work can commence.

It was considered the scheme was in line with the Scottish Government’s enthusiasm for windfarms and, according to Mr McDowall, would bring economic benefits to the area.

He added: “I am satisfied that the proposal will not have significant effect on the landscape character of the area...(and is) an important development in terms of economics for Hamilton Technology Park.”

l To comment on this story e-mail jrowbotham@s-un.co.uk