Wind farm opinions wanted in East Ayrshire.

Nov 4 2011 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A WINDFARM company is urging the people of Dalmellington and New Cumnock to make their voices heard.

Vattenfall, a Swedish state-owned energy company, wants the views and opinions of people on a wind farm at South Kyle.

The company has launched a consultation this week before developers come up with plans for a potential windfarm.

Vattenfall has vowed that it will then go back to the community with the detailed proposal for the windfarm to seek more feedback.

Colin Ormston, head of onshore wind development for Vattenfall, said: “Vattenfall would like to build and operate a windfarm for the next 25 years at South Kyle. A wind farm at South Kyle should be good for local people, communities and businesses whilst also generating, clean, green electricity. We want to hear people's views on how we can deliver those benefits and be a good neighbour.

He added: “We are gathering a lot of information on a wide range of topics in connection to a windfarm at South Kyle.

“A crucial part of our research is understanding what local people, communities and businesses think of a windfarm proposal in the area of interest.

“We are offering local people, communities and businesses a genuine opportunity to get involved and help us develop the best possible wind farm.”

Meanwhile, another windfarm company has announced significant changes to it’s plans for a development in the same area.

RWE npower renewables (RWE NRL) tweaks to the wind farm at Ashmark Hill near New Cumnock are designed to reduce the visual impact of wind farm on the landscape.

It follows a review of feedback received from the community during the company’s ongoing public consultation programme.

Alastair Yule, Renewables Developer with RWE NRL, said: “We have been consulting with local people for a number of months regarding our Ashmark Hill proposal, including a public exhibition held at New Cumnock community centre at the start of September.

“It’s been a very constructive process and we made a commitment to listen to what the community was telling us about our proposal.

“One of the main topics in our discussions with people who attended the exhibition was that of minimising the landscape and visual impact of the windfarm.

Our revised proposals significantly reduce the number of turbines at the site, and following design advice from our landscape architect, we have taken the decision to remove two of the turbines closest to Glen Afton.

“We have also reduced the vertical scale of the turbines to lessen the visual impact of the development.”

The specific changes to the Ashmark Hill proposal are a reduction in turbine number from 12 to seven, a reduction in the vertical scale of turbines from 125 metres to 116 metres and a number of amendments to the turbine layout

The updated layout of the turbines and further information about the project is available at www.npower-renewables.com/ashmarkhill.

Anyone interested in the South Kyle Windfarm can contact Vattenfall at any of the community consultation events via the Vattenfall website or directly to Joanne Hutchinson on 01434 611 300 or joanne.hutchinson@vattenfall.com

Public information days will be held in Dalmellington community centre on Tuesday, November 22 and in New Cumnock community centre on Wednesday, November 23.