A windfarm off the Scottish coast will not spoil the panoramic vistas of the Moray Firth because the view is “often obscured by the weather”, according to planners. An 85-turbine project in the Outer Moray Firth has been agreed by Highland councillors despite the proposal being recommended for refusal by council officials. There had also been objections over the scheme’s impact on fishing, wildlife and military aircraft. Moray Offshore Windfarm (West) Ltd has proposed the scheme for a site about 14 miles from the Caithness coast. Highland planning officers had warned that some of the turbines would have a “significantly detrimental impact” on open panoramic sea views and suggested limiting the westward extent of the wind farm. The Ministry of Defence objected because of “unacceptable interference” to air traffic control radar used by RAF Lossiemouth, while Scottish Natural Heritage and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said the development would have an adverse effect on kittiwakes and other birds. But Maxine Smith, the Highland council’s north planning committee chairwoman, said the project would bring economic benefits including an estimated 143 jobs in Invergordon. “After listening to the local members and all of the debate it was thought that the view out to sea is often obscured by the weather conditions anyway,” she said. “The detrimental impact did not outweigh the economic benefit that will come to the area.”
Times 29th Nov 2018 read more »