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Community council calls public meeting over controversial Kinlochbervie wind farm proposal


Community council calls public meeting over controversial Kinlochbervie wind farm proposal

A public meeting is to be held next week to discuss the controversial proposal for a large wind farm in north-west Sutherland which has reportedly caused upset and divided the community.

The meeting is being organised by Kinlochbervie Community Council and will take place in the village hall on Tuesday, October 28, starting at 7pm.

The move comes after a group of people submitted a petition to the community council asking for a meeting to be held.

A spokesperson for the 30-strong group said: "It is really important that as many people as possible know about this meeting. People must have the opportunity to be informed and to express their views."

The spokesperson added: "It should come as no surprise that the community is very divided."

Edinburgh-based company Galileo Empower is behind the Kinlochbervie Renewable Energy Project, which comprises 18 turbines measuring 200 metres to the tip, a battery energy storage system (BESS), and solar photovoltaic panels.

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The 129.5 scheme is to be located on a site four miles east of Kinlochbervie, to the east of the B801 and north of the A838 road.

The wind farm will occupy almost the entirety of the 7,200 acre Kinlochbervie estate, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage North West Highlands Geopark.

A planning application is expected to be submitted to the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit shortly.

Local people have expressed concerns about the project's potential impact on the landscape, environment, and tourist industry.

One opponent posted: "The turbines will be seen from every home..... If they are not turning, one blade could cast a shadow over your entire home and garden... The noise will be enough to drive some of us demented."

Another person described the scheme as "totally horrific and totally detrimental to the area."

However, some local people are said to be in favour of the scheme because of the community benefit it would bring.

The public meeting has been arranged after the community council received a petition signed by 40 per cent of adults in the area it covers.

The spokesperson said: "A group of local people went door-to-door with a petition in September and got 112 signatures in a week. This represents 40 per cent of the area's adult population."

"There is no doubt that more people would have signed if the petitioners had managed to reach everyone."

"The petition asked the community council to support the recent call for a moratorium on new renewable energy projects in the Highlands, which was made at a recent convention of Highland community council.

"The community council is not going to support the statement at this time, but it is holding a public meeting."

The spokesperson added: "There is a feeling that very little can be done about the proposal. It will happen regardless of what people think. The developer is racing along and the planning application will be submitted shortly. There is talk of community consultation, but it seems to be much more of a tick box exercise.

Representatives from Galileo will be present at the meeting and will take questions from the floor before community-led questions and concerns are raised.

Any local person who would like to attend the meeting but is in need of transport should call or text: 07749 713184.

Developers say they will offer the public shared ownership in the wind farm as well as set up an index-linked community wealth fund. There is also the potential for a local electricity discount scheme.

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