West Highlands & Islands Local Plan
Public Meeting held at Newtonmore Village Hall on 14 April 7pm
Introductions: Cllr Gregor Rimell (Chair), Sue Palmer, Chief Executive’s Office, Ward Manager Badenoch & Strathspey, Malcolm MacLeod, Planning & Development, Development Plans Manager and Colin MacKenzie, Planning & Development, Principal Planner
Purpose of the Meeting: to discuss the draft WHILP in so far as it affects those parts of B&S not in the Cairngorms National Park area and the reference in the draft plan to future opportunities for wind and wave energy generation in the southern Monadhliath, Loch Laggan and Loch Ericht areas.
Colin MacKenzie took us through slides that provided an overview of the plan (PDF 3Mb) and areas affected with regard to renewable energy (Refer to slides for further details). The Council will be reviewing their Renewable Energy Strategy. Therefore there will be opportunity at a later stage for members of the public to comment on the strategy and the local plan. In general the Council is seeking to maximise the development of resources but at the same time balance this with the impact of the development.
There had been an Environmental Report prepared earlier, but a requirement now to revisit and update the Strategic Environmental Assessment over the next 6 weeks.
The Planning Environment and Development Committee will consider any issues raised by the public. If there are objections that cannot be resolved, the Local Plan will be referred to a Public Local Inquiry or Hearing. Elected Members would be briefed regarding any proposed changes to the Local Plan.
The floor was then opened up for questions and comments.
Dick Balharry – are there targets relating to carbon release? Developments will need to demonstrate they met the requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment. Government guidelines will be coming out so a Sustainable Design Statement is completed for each applicant in line with the Council's climate agenda.
Campbell Slimon – Why is the meeting taking place in Newtonmore? Wind farms give a community benefit in terms of money. They could be located in Dalwhinnie where they can be hidden.
Cameron MacNeish – thanked the Council and councillors for holding the meeting and was pleased the Highland Council has a strategy regarding wind farms. Loch Laggan and Loch Ericht look like they are well protected areas in the vision for the local plan – why are the areas in the provision?
Colin MacKenzie – the areas are based on a gradation of different levels of protection. Some of the areas are not potential development sites in terms of elevation, wind speed, close enough to infrastructure and communities.
Dick Webster, Kingussie High School – no Elected Member covers that area? (Each of the 4 Members serve the entire Council Ward area of Badenoch and Strathspey). We don’t need to fear them being in the main visible zones. There are places not visible that can serve local and national ends without having an impact on the sensitivities of people. Developments can support local communities and produce a lot of sustainable energy.
Angela Cox – If turbines are built in places not seen how can the power get to the national grid?
Jeannie Munro – When is how many enough of turbines? What is the limit as this is a small place? They should not be placed in deep bogs because of the impact from what is released. How can we say we cannot see them when they are 400 feet high?
Colin MacKenzie/Malcolm MacLeod – there are targets within the Renewable Energy Strategy and in the Programme of Administration. The Council will monitor changes in technology, will ensure proposals comply with Environmental Assessment regulations and intends to apply its Design for Sustainability Guideline in lieu of government guidance. Proposals are considered on a case by case basis. There is a 50% national renewable energy requirement by 2020. The Highland contribution requires to be addressed at regional level and an appropriate balance of conservation with renewable energy made.
Gordon Nesbitt – how long is the life of a turbine? Malcolm – about 25 years, and they would require constant maintenance.
Rory King – Does the local authority take account of the infrastructure such as roads, what's the ‘pay back’ period? What is the cost of sustainability to the environment and people?
Robin Nesbitt – what will the Government do if we don’t meet the targets?
Malcolm MacLeod – a strategy is the most appropriate way forward for the Highlands and it has to meet the guidelines. It is important that the strategy is generated in discussion with local people and that market factors are properly balanced.
Angela Cox – would there be an issue if individuals wished to have turbines for their own domestic use, also if community groups wanted one?
Colin MacKenzie – the opportunity is there for individuals and community. The design would need to be looked at with each proposal.
Cameron MacNeish – Loch Laggan and Loch Ericht pointed out that the Glasgow survey was flawed as it did not cover Highlands and Islands, and there was a low take-up. However, the outcome of a survey by Wild Scotland stated that 98% of people would not come back to the area if there were wind farms. The area is known for tourism and so would be significant if we lost this. We need to omit Loch Laggan and Loch Ericht because it will affect tourism.
Alan Macpherson Fletcher – asked for clarification regarding the remit of the meeting in terms of geographical area covered.
Cllr Rimell – Not covering the park area as this would come under the CNPA and not the Council.
Colin MacKenzie referred back to the maps on the slides to clarify the areas affected by developments.
Cllr Fallows – stated that there are many renewable energy sources such as hydro-electric, off-shore, and from what is already existing was there any scope to produce more efficient ways of providing renewable energy?
Colin Mackenzie – we looked at different sources such as wind, solar, bio mass, but the extent to which this was done could possibly be expanded upon. ACTION
The feeling of people attending the meeting was for the Council's Ward and Park Authority boundaries to be aligned. ACTION Sue Palmer to explore if this is possible.
Angela Cox – suggested that people walk the area and have a look
Next Steps: Malcolm MacLeod – there will be opportunity again for people to put forward their views with Planning and Development producing an update report in May.
It had been acknowledged that although a flyer had been produced and circulated by e-mail round the Secretaries of Kingussie, Laggan, Newtonmore and Dalwhinnie community councils for them to place in key locations in their communities where people would see them, the flyer could have gone out earlier than 5 days prior. Although it was also pointed out that the meeting was advertised in the local press. The location of the venue also needed to be considered. ACTION: Sue Palmer noted this for future public meetings.
ACTION: Sue Palmer agreed to place the slides, summary of discussions and update report (PDF 327Kb) on the Highland Council ‘Ward Profile’.
The meeting closed.