Once again, Clatto Hill is faced with proposals for industrial scale wind power development
Proposal 1:by GreenCat Renewables on behalf of Douglas Rennie of Clatto Farm: 3 Turbines 100m high very nearly at the summit of Clatto Hill
Proposal 2: by West Coast Energy, to be known as Devon Wood Windfarm for 7 Turbines 120m high next door to the Clatto Farm proposal, such that the two would form one large site.
Problems with the proposals:
Far too close to where people live
Overbearing impact on the landscape from near and far
Spoiling an area of tranquillity and peaceful recreation
Serious driver distraction problems on an already challenging minor road
A threat to tourism
The advance and plans for marine renewable energy on a huge scale means there is no need to spoil our countryside.
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What's Happening
Following the revision to the WCE proposal, CLPG has added to their objection
CLPG earlier submitted its FULL objection to the WCE proposal for Clatto Hill
This document is the culmination of a great deal of study of the proposal, visits to several other windfarms and advice from legal, planning and landscape experts. West Coast Energy want the Council to believe that few people live on or around Clatto Hill, or that their turbines would hardly be seen because of screening from trees . The truth is that over a hundred families live closer than 2 km from proposed turbine locations. Almost all of them would see the turbines from their homes and as they move around in the locality. It would be a relentless overbearing presence of something wholly out of scale with the surroundings. The proposed turbines do not comply with Scottish Natural Heritage’s guidance on windfarm design and siting.
This is in addition to the objection already submitted to the Green Cat proposal
After very full consideration, CLPG decided to make a formal objection to Fife Council to the proposal submitted by Green Cat Renewables (GCR) on behalf of Douglas Rennie of Clatto Farm, for three 100 metre high turbines on the top of Clatto Hill.
The planning application number for the GCR proposal is 10/01469/EIA The case officer is Chris Smith. People can follow progress on Fife Council's website.
A further proposal, by West Coast Energy, for seven 120 metre turbines on adjacent land has also been submitted, the WCE application number is 10/02183/EIA. A summary objection has been submitted. We will be submitting a full objection to this proposal when we have finished considering all the implications.
Clatto Hill is 248m high. Putting turbines at heights of 190m to 210m means adding a huge amount to the height!
These proposals mean erecting larger turbines nearer to people's homes than anywhere else we have been able to identify in rural Scotland - a dangerous precedent if allowed.
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This website aims to provide information on the proposed developments.
Keep track of how both the planning applcations are progressing
View objections and comments etc on Fife Council website
Download and view CLPG reports on sound, driver distraction, visualisations and more : Click Here
A link to the CAWT site with lots of info about windpower in Aberdeenshire (where both developers here are also active) and masses of NEWS about windpower in general : Click Here
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Clatto Hill from the air. The Lomond Hills are in the distance
Click the image for a larger version and another aerial view
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Clatto Land Protection Group - CPLG
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When a proposal was made by Scottish Power to build a wind-power installation on Clatto Hill in Fife, CLPG was formed by a group of concerned local residents.
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17 turbines, each 93 meters high (that is the same height as the Statue of Liberty), were proposed in 2003, which would have dominated our rural landscape. Planning permission was refused. Two new proposals have now come forward, for fewer but larger turbines on the same site.
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