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PROJECT UPDATE - MAY 2007
Introduction
The Spittal Hill Windfarm Section 36 application has now
been lodged with the Scottish Executive . If anyone wishes to see what
three years of intensive study work has produced and what the windfarm
will actually look like please take some time to view the Environmental
Statement at one of the following- Spittal Garage, Halkirk Post Office,
Watten Post Office, Highland Council Planning Office in Wick or the
Thurso Library. We maintain that the Environmental Statement covers
all the relevant statutory requirements and puts forward a robust case
for a Windfarm on the East side of Spittal Hill. It describes, in detail,
the effects on the local habitat and the wider landscape.
If the application is successful then Spittal Windfarm will deliver the following local and national benefits.
Environment
The proposal, after some revision, now has 30 turbines
and would have an output of up to 75 megawatts. A windfarm of this
size, in a windy environment such as Caithness, will save in the region
of 170,000 tons of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas contributing
to global warming, per annum. Even if you are in "global warming
denial",
the saving in fossil fuel usage would be significant. The electricity
needs of some 42,000 average households would be provided by the Windfarm.
The Environmental Statement, summarising three years of detailed study,
does not indicate any significant effects on flora or fauna likely
to be caused by the development. All noise, shadow, vibration and visibility
effects would be within acceptable limits.
Financial
Some examples of the benefits the Spittal Hill Windfarm would
bring are as follows. The 75mW proposal would contribute £375,000
to the Highland Council in rates per annum. The capital cost of the
development would be £83 million, and rising! About half of this
would be infrastructure such as roads, foundations, cabling etc. Local
companies are capable of carrying out much of this work and will be
invited to tender for it. Over 100 construction jobs are likely to
be created which will last for a year to 18 months. Four to five skilled
long term maintenance jobs will be created. We have ideas, which were
supported by feedback we have received, for an interpretive centre,
possibly linked to the renewable and the local flagstone industries,
which could provide further employment and boost the tourism industry.
The transportation of the turbines through the harbour in Wick should
provide the port with fees of around £50,000 which is much needed
business for the Harbour Trust. Local firms in the quarry industry
will benefit from sales of stone and concrete to the development. There
are eight different landowners involved in the development so financial
benefit from land leases will be spread over quite a number of local
families who will be living nearest to the windfarm. These are just
a few of the many benefits the project would bring. There will be many
others in the service industries; garages, engineering firms, hotels
and other accommodation providers.
Windfarm Myths
The above mentioned sections will bring financial gain
to the Caithness economy but what about the poor soles who will see
the windfarm from their windows? What compensation are they going to
get, you may ask? Compensation is surely only something asked for when
a financial loss is incurred. We would maintain that the windfarm will
not disadvantage any residents who live near or far from the windfarm.We
will create new access for walkers, cyclists or horse riders to appreciate
the views from the Spittal Hill area. The roads will be open for public
use. As anybody who passes the Causeymire Windfarm will notice far
more people are making use of the access created than ever did before
construction. Recording of bird mortality from the Causeymire Windfarm
has shown no significant affect at all on bird deaths. Due to the detailed
studies required, before consent is given, it is not surprising that
there are very few bird deaths recorded as a result of windfarm operation
in the UK. There is also no evidence for a negative effect on house
prices or tourism.
Community Benefit within Caithness
As part of the planning process,
the concept of "planning
gain" has
become established. This is over and above the normal taxation companies
pay on profits. It has become expected and enshrined in official policy
that developers will pay something towards upgrading local infrastructure
if, say, a large housing development goes ahead in an area.Windfarms
are no different and the normal way is to establish a Community Benefit
Fund and to pay a sum related to the capacity of the windfarm, annually,
to be spent within the local community. Currently this figure is around £2,000
per megawatt which means that Spittal Windfarm would contribute around £150,000
to local communities per annum. This substantial figure would normally
be given to the Community Council within whose patch you were going
to build. In the case of Spittal Windfarm this may be shared by the
Watten Community Council (28turbines) and Halkirk (2 turbines). But
what about Spittal village itself which is nearest to the development
and is it fair that Halkirk, which is the same distance from the site
as Watten, should only receive benefit from 2 turbines ? One can see
the problems. Due to the fact that we are a locally based company and
care about the structure of what may be set up, we are looking at other
options. We are speaking to the Community Councils affected and will
also speak to Spittal representatives about ways to resolve these issues.
One of our favoured options is for the Communities themselves to take
a tangible stake by way of turbine ownership. We are exploring ways
in which this can be done and will also look at the wider Caithness
situation where we have maintained for some time that a "Caithness
Community Fund" should be set up into which developers of all
local windfarms could contribute .It does not seem that this will happen
if left to others therefore we are determined to take the first step
down this road.
We urge you not to accept the propaganda from the "antis" and "nimbys" and to look to the wider benefit of our proposal.
If you are in support of Spittal Hill Windfarm the please write to :-
The Scottish Executive,
Energy Consents Unit,
5 Cadogan Street,
Glasgow G2 6AT.
Or E-mail :- energyconsents@scotland.gsi.gov.uk