CONTROVERSIAL plans for the erection of wind turbines very close to a residential area have been thrown out by councillors amid concerns about a danger to health and safety of residents.
The North Ayrshire Council Planning Committee were asked to agree to the erection of two wind turbines with a height of 150m, and associated infrastructure, at a site on the Ardeer Peninsula.
The proposed site was around 575m east of the residential area of Stevenston at its closest point.
It would be accessed from Central Avenue to the south of the proposed turbine locations. The site is part of an industrial area, formerly used for production of energetics. Existing access tracks would be used.
There are various industrial and business properties on the southern side of Central Avenue and Stevenston Industrial Estate some 480m to the west and an existing energetics factory, Chemring, sits to the south and east of the application site. The application site was identified in the Local Development Plan (LDP), adopted November 2019, as an area suitable for business and industrial development.
Objectors included local company Chemring, the adjacent energetics company who voiced concern about the proximity of the building to them.
The southernmost turbine would be some 420m to the south. It would be approximately 110m north of Central Avenue and approximately 160m north-west of the Chemring gatehouse. The turbines, at their closest point, would be around 770m to the west of the Bogside Flats Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The report concluded that there would be significant effect on the surroundings of the site to a distance of two to three km.
It was considered that effects would be mitigated in longer distances as the landscape is heavily influenced by industrial development.
Neighbours said there would be a significant impact on Stevenston which is within three km.
There would also be impacts on the core paths and recreational routes within that distance. Greenacres Caravan Park and Sandylands Holiday Park would also be impacted.
Stevenston Community Council considered that erection of such structures next to a populated area was inappropriate. They considered the proposal to be contrary to the Council’s Landscape Wind Capacity.
One of the objectors were Chemring, the adjacent energetics company. Their concerns regarding the proximity of the development, as set out in the report of SLR Consulting Ltd, dated November 2023, and submitted on behalf of Chemring is also noted.
Independent North Coast councillor, Ian Murdoch, said: “The report states the height is 150m to the tip, there is a great emphasis on the height of these turbines but there is no mention of the megawatts capacity as the output is more significant than the actual size.”
Planning officer, Allan Finlayson, said he did not have those figures to hand.
Murdoch responded: “You said one area of concern by the council was the visual impact. I am very disappointed there wasn’t another consideration which is even more important which is public health.
“Because that is why I am asking about the megawatt capacity as there are serious impacts for turbines which are close to residential areas. It’s around 700m from residences and infrasound and blade flare have huge impacts on public health from turbines. Audible and inaudible noise is of great concern to me in regards to public health by residences which are so close to turbines or developments of this kind.”
The application fell after the committee failed to support it.
