Purpose

Application comes before committee due to
being a national development for which we are seeking views and
comments on the proposal from FAC before application appears at ISC
in June for determination.

Content

Motion – Formartine Area Committee
should remain neutral
 
Amendment 1 – Formartine Area Committee
should not support the application
 
Amendment 2 – Formartine Area Committee
should support the application
 
Following voting, the motion was carried that
the application be referred to ISC for determination, with
Formartine Area Committee remaining neutral and providing the
following comments: 
 
a)   
This is a national, regional development vs the reality for
residents in the area,
b)   
There is a huge concern about cumulative impact for residential
properties in the area,
c)   
There is collective industrialisation of a rural area,
d)   
Consideration should be given to the landscape, visual impact and
character of the area,
e)   
There is a risk to hydrology and water supplies and so the
monitoring of this is welcome,
f)     
In terms of roads infrastructure and safety, much of the small
rural road network in this area is single track and consideration
should be given to the size of construction vehicles travelling to
and from the site,
g)   
In considering the roads network in the area and the reality for
users, mitigation is appreciated but cognisance should be given to
the condition and maintenance of the road and lack of passing
places,
h)   
Assurances have been given that the developer has taken into
consideration any impacts on the river Deveron and river Ythan and
will continue to do so,
i)     
It’s noted that there are agreed working hours which helps to
mitigate the noise element with construction, but consideration
should also be given to light pollution coming from the site in
winter hours,
j)     
The cumulative noise and lighting impacts including other
developments in the area should be considered,
k)   
Landscaping visual impacts of the cumulative development area
should be considered,
l)     
Construction traffic and routes need to be adhered to, in the past
there has been no enforcement or interventions,
m) 
The proximity of residential properties and loss of amenity needs
to be carefully considered,
n)   
The biodiversity element has been covered in terms of the
conditions and NPF4 requirements,
o)   
The Fintry issue raised at the Pre-Determination Hearing, in terms
of construction traffic, may not have long-term implications but
the short and medium-term implications should be considered,
p)   
It would be helpful to have a named person for locals to contact,
should there be any issues, and
q)   
The requirements for a windfarm are quite substantial, to be borne
by a small rural area.
 
The Committee also agreed that, should the
application be approved, the MSCs should come back to the
Formartine Area Committee for consideration, due to the significant
issue for local residents.