Shire and city councils back offshore windfarm
ABERDEENSHIRE Cuuncil’s Infrastructure Services Committee has backed proposals for a multi-million pound offshore wind development, which Donald Trump has asserted could cause him to cease construction at Menie.
The meeting, last Thursday, saw councillors discuss the impact the proposals would have on the local economy, with members voicing views broadly in favour of the development, which will serve as a testing station for new turbine designs.
European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre spokesman David Rodger said: “The project partners have welcomed today’s meeting - with Aberdeenshire Council acknowledging the important role the EOWDC could play in the future diversification of the area. We also welcome that broadly positive views received from both Formartine & Buchan Councillors who represent area’s close to the proposed scheme will be passed to Marine Scotland.
“We believe the proposal has wide public and business support and we have made a strong case for the economic and environmental benefits of this project. We look forward to hearing a decision on our planning application from Marine Scotland later this year.”
However, Trump International who have vociferously opposed the development, argued that the EOWDC would blight views from the coast, and have an impact on tourism in the north east of Scotland. It was further argued that a public enquiry would be necessary to establish guidelines on the siting of offshore developments.
A spokesman said: “The golf, leisure and tourism industry now stand united against the siting of this proposal as it establishes a precedent that has the potential to destroy the entire links golf experience in Scotland. To put it simply, it will totally destroy tourism in Scotland and even more importantly, the great beauty of the Scottish coastline. There is a need for the Scottish Government to establish a national policy regulating the acceptable distance of such turbines from the shoreline.”
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Weather for Ellon
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: West
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