There are now 244 wind farms in the UK, containing a total of 2,610 turbines (source: BWEA).

This shows that the UK is slowly but steadily adapting to renewable energy, with 33 wind farms currently being built and 162 planning permission applications consented.  However the debate goes on about where wind farms should be positioned within the landscape.  This month the importance of local communities is particularly poignant as can be seen from the following wind farm updates:

• The four turbines planned for Druim Fada, near Corpach, Lochaber will be examined in a meeting attended by members of the Highland councils of Ross, Skye and Lochaber.  The proposal has received 99 letters to date, 85 of them being objections.  Both RSPB Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage do not oppose the turbines.  For more information visit www.wind-watch.org/news/2009/08/19/hearing-into-wind-turbines-plan
• After the Aberdeenshire Council’s planning service recommended refusal, the seven turbines at Pressendye Hill, Cushnie, Alford have been refused planning consent.  Although this development was projected to provide sustainable energy for 7,000-15,000 homes in the surrounding community it was felt that the site chosen was too valuable in aesthetic terms, particularly as it was close to the Cairngorms National Park.  Around 600 letters were received from members of the community opposing the scheme. More information can be found at www.wind-watch.org/news/2009/08/19/cheers-as-windfarm-plan-is-rejected-2
• A meeting is to be held between RSPB Scotland and the Viking Energy Partnership to discuss ways of taking the major central Shetland 150-turbine project forward.  RSPB Scotland has opposed the scheme claiming that such a development would cause unacceptable damage to bird populations, notably species such as Whimbrel and Arctic Skua.  Visit www.wind-watch.org/news/2009/08/18/viking-and-rspb-meet-in-hope-of-resolving-differences-over-windfarm for more information.
• Planning for a wind farm on Matlock and Middle Moors has been opposed by the Peak District National Park due to its closeness to the park perimeter and subsequent effects on the aesthetic value of the landscape.  In a positive move the national park authority, in conjunction with the Derbyshire Dales District Council and High Peak Borough Council, has published a Peak Sub-Region Climate Change Study which identifies the potential for similar environmental savings in terms of emissions, but with considerably less industrial impact.  Industrial scale wind power has been replaced in the report by micro-scale innovative renewable schemes, and includes small scale wind turbines among many other suggestions such as micro hydro-power.  More information can be found on the national park authorities web page at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/climatechange
• A public enquiry into the huge Eisgein wind farm development in the Scottish Hebrides has concluded that the wind farm would have significant detrimental impact on the South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area.  The scheme has now been proposed in a slightly different area, leaving the NSA untouched, however the 3,000 community members that opposed the initial development are likely to still stand against the scheme based upon its scale.  More information can be found at www.clickgreen.org.uk/news/national-news/12500-landmark-report-bounces-wind-farm-plans-and-sets-a-precedent-for-scenic-areas.html
• A local group set up to fight the development of an onshore wind farm near Guestwick, East Anglia have raised over £50,000 to fight their battle and have so far managed to delay the passing of the proposal.  They believe the ‘considerable rural charm’ of the intensive agricultural landscape may be spoilt, along with the view from listed buildings.

A positive development was made when the Chief Executive of Natural England, Helen Philips said “as a society we have to move from knee jerk nymbyism to an informed consensus that there are landscapes where renewable energy infrastructure is desirable and should be encouraged, just as there are landscapes that should remain sacrosanct and free from development” (see www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/5894601/Natural-England-will-consider-wind-farms-in-national-parks.html).  These words come as a reassurance to all who campaign to protect the landscapes that they so passionately care for.   It seems that renewable energy schemes evoke a strong passion to protect valuable (and not so valuable) landscapes from further industrialisation and development.  It is a pity that these groups of powerful communities were not so prevalent in the years when nuclear and coal power stations of considerably worse aesthetic (not to mention environmental) impact were built, Bradwell in Essex (see below) being a prime example of the devastating aesthetic impact that can be wrought without the say of local communities.