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HILL
OF STROUPSTER, AUCKENGILL
PUBLIC LOCAL INQUIRY |
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Update - April 2010
The Reporter for the Stroupster Windfarm Inquiry considers that the Caithness landscape is not worth preserving. He acknowledges that a number of families will suffer a long-term detrimental impact on their amenity, but the effect will not be "overbearing" and is therefore acceptable. It is just unfortunate if you happen to be one of them. The full Decision Notice
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Update - January 2010 The Inquiry has now ended and final Closing Submissions can be seen as follows: Appellants' Closing Submission CWIF-Wayfarer Closing Submission Highland Council Closing Submission Scottish
Natural Heritage Closing Submission Donations are still urgently needed as the fund is well short of what is needed to cover expenses.
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Stroupster Windfarm from Castle Sinclair
Girnigoe |
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On a
day of average visibility, you can see Morven at 34 miles. Good visibility,
Kilbreck at 55 miles. Really good visibility, Cranstackie at 64 miles.
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Update - 23 October 2009 Finalised programme has now been received
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Update - 16 October 2009 The following documents have now been lodged:
CWIF
precognition Visual Impact
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Update - 8 October 2009 The Reporter has now issued a Revised Provisional Programme for the Public Inquiry. Precognitions will be
lodged next Tuesday, 13 October, and will be linked to from
this page when that is done. Anyone wanting to make a point to the
Reporter should note that he has to have it by that date. He will
accept emails which can be sent to him via the Thank you to those who have generously donated so far. We still need your donations to fight this Public Inquiry. We have just paid out more than £600 for printing etc costs so far and there is a long way to go! Making a donation to the Stroupster Inquiry Fund is quick and easy.
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Summary CWIF Committee has agreed that CWIF will actively participate in the forthcoming Public Local Inquiry into the proposed Stroupster Windfarm Development. The Development would overshadow a large tract of populated land in north-east Caithness and be visible from far afield. Apart from the forthcoming PLI, the developers have also lodged a parallel identical Planning Application, giving themselves two more attempts at Planning and at Appeal should the Inquiry reject the development. CWIF is taking this step because Highland Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and the RSPB have all been ineffective in promoting the rights of ordinary people in the face of windfarm development, there is no local opposition group, and to do nothing at Stroupster would open the floodgates. Only the Inquiry Reporter stands between the preservation of residential amenity and the safeguarding of our landscape in north-east Caithness, and its domination by a hugely intrusive Industrial Development. CWIF and the Wayfarer Trust have joined forces in pursuit of a common aim - refusal of this development - but it will take resources to make an effective case against a well funded professional team, and all supporters are urged to support the Stroupster Inquiry Fund.
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Update - 3 August 2009 The Applicant voluntarily lodged Further Environmental Information as part of their Statement of Case. Essentially, this gathers together the information from the 2005 and 2007 Applications and provides additional information on the results of consultations with statutory consultees. This has now been advertised for comment by 28th August 2009. If any members can make comment on the issues, particularly peat stability or habitat management, please let us know as soon as possible. The Reporter has asked that "relevant persons" respond to him by 28th August 2009. "Relevant persons" to the Inquiry are the Applicant, Highland Council, and CWIF-W. The Applicant has still to produce updated information on cumulative visual impact. It is not clear if this will also have to be advertised. The date and time for the start of the Inquiry has been confirmed as 10.0 am on Tuesday 27th October 2009. The venue has been confirmed as Mackay's Hotel, Wick. The Reporter will conduct the formal Inquiry and then hold a "Hearing". This is less formal and he will listen to representations from members of the public who wish to make points either for or against the development provided they make their intentions known by two weeks before the Inquiry starts. If you have a point to make but don't want to be part of the Inquiry proceedings, CWIF-W can make it for you. E-mail CWIF or CWIF-W , or phone Stuart Young on 07717 295235. Logic tells us that inappropriate windfarm development will harm tourism, but the Caithness tourism bodies are silent on this matter. If you are dependent upon tourism and want to have a say at the Inquiry, either personally or through CWIF-Wayfarer, please let us know. Former Councillor Mr Bill Mowat has submitted a representation in favour of the development and indicated that he wishes to give evidence. The next deadline is the "submission of documents" by 27th September 2009. By that time the case to be made has to be complete to be sure that all information to be relied upon at the Inquiry has been identified.
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Update - 23 July 2009 Statements of Case have now been lodged by: Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council and can be downloaded as .pdf files using the above links
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CWIF Committee has agreed that CWIF will actively participate in the forthcoming Public Local Inquiry into the proposed Stroupster Windfarm Development. Background The development lies on high land overlooking the communities on the east coast of Sinclairs Bay on the one side and the Lyth/Bower hinterland on the other. Its influence impacts on the upper areas of Dunnet, East Mey, and Barrock to the north, and from Noss Head to Reiss and the scattered communities around Moss of Killimster to the south. It will be prominently visible from further afield to the south and west. The original Stroupster application was lodged in 2005 and refused by the Caithness Area Planning Committee in May 2006. In November 2006, the developers lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government, and asked for it to be "cisted", that is, put on the shelf meantime. It is this original Application which is the subject of the Inquiry, having for a reason unknown, been taken back off the shelf. In 2007, the developer lodged an identical application for the Stroupster Windfarm with exactly the same turbines in exactly the same places. This application is being processed in parallel by Highland Council and is completely separate from the application which is the subject of the PLI. It is still possible and worthwhile objecting to this second application as it will still be active even if the Inquiry refuses the appeal for the first application, and the developer will have another two opportunities, at Planning and at Appeal. Why CWIF? Highland Council's original reasons for refusal were not particularly robust in Planning terms, and although Councillors have recently shown at Shebster that they are prepared to take on board legitimate concerns and refuse inappropriate development, Planners seem committed to pushing through development at all costs and may not have the motivation required to put up an effective defence of the original refusal. SNH do not have the funds or motivation to fight windfarms unless they clearly breach EU guidance or regulation. RSPB have snuggled up to the windfarm industry in return for cash to restrict their objections to all but designated areas or species. There is no local opposition organisation. It is clear that developers are desperate to win approvals. Lieurary which was refused by HC, and then on appeal, is back with another proposal. Forss started with two turbines, now has six, and is going for another seven. Virtually every approved windfarm applies for an extension- Causeymire, Forss, Beinn Tarsuinn, and Novar for example. To do nothing at Stroupster would be to open the floodgates. County-wide implications Councillors accepted that the West Shebster Windfarm would extend the cumulative impact of windfarm development in an unacceptable manner across to the west of Caithness, and refused development. Stroupster would have a similar impact on the north-east corner of Caithness, but now only the PLI Reporter can prevent this from happening. It is essential that he is convinced that this development is inappropriate and damaging on many fronts - residential amenity, visual impact, impact on tourism, ornithological, ecological, and economic grounds to name a few. How it is to be done At the pre-inquiry meeting
in Auckengill on 28th May 2009, the Reporter encouraged CWIF and Mr
Murray Watts of the Wayfarer Trust (Freswick Castle) to join forces
and become a "relevant person" to the inquiry. A "relevant person" is
a principal participant in an inquiry and has particular rights and
obligations. CWIF and Mr Watts welcome this arrangement and will work
seamlessly together to achieve the common aim of rejection of this development.
Individuals can make significant contribution to a PLI, but the applicants have a team of highly paid professionals to press their case, and it is essential that a dedicated resource is available to co-ordinate, make, and present the opposition case, and deal with the extensive communication and administration involved. This function will be provided by CWIF Chairman, Stuart Young in his professional capacity as Stuart Young Consulting. The process will be overseen by a Steering Committee drawn from CWIF Committee comprising the Office Bearers, one other Committee Member with particular knowledge of Planning issues, and Mr Watts. Funding The campaign will be funded through a joint Fund. The amount of effort which can be put into opposing the development is largely dependent upon the amount of funding available, so please use the Donate button below to donate funds specifically for this purpose.
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