- Target:
- Orkney
- Region:
- United Kingdom
Orkney Energy Gateway Ltd have submitted a planning application to Orkney Islands Council to build a massive wind turbine close to Hatston Pier. If this turbine goes ahead it will be the highest man made structure built in the Kirkwall and St Ola area.
It is proposed that the turbine will be 93.5m high to the highest blade tip which will be almost twice the height of St Magnus Cathedral spire which is only 50m high. The cathedral will no longer be the focal point of the town. **** PLEASE NOTE THE DEVELOPER HAS NOW CHANGED THE SIZE OF THE TURBINE TO 67M HIGH****
It will have a huge impact on our community and will adversely affect the visual amenity of many homes. It will be seen for miles around. It will dominate the Kirkwall skyline from air, ferry and road approaches.
We are concerned about any noise from the turbine and are also concerned about flicker effect and possible interference with television and communication signals.
It is proposed to be sited on the edge of Hatston Industrial Estate directly in front of the new ferry terminal. It will totally dominate the tourist gateway to Orkney as it will be the first and last thing thousands of cruise liner and ferry passengers will see.
• Orkney Islands Council’s newly adopted document entitled Supplementary Planning Guidance Onshore Wind Energy Development shows the proposed site lying in a potential ‘area of constraint’ as the proposed site of the turbine location is within a 2 kilometre ‘buffer zone’ surrounding the town of Kirkwall. (Similar buffer zones surround all towns, villages and settlements within Orkney).
• Orkney Islands Council Local Plan Policy LP/U7 ‘Wind Power’ states that wind turbines should not have an adverse impact on: landscape character; and visual impact with particular account being taken of how the landscape is experienced from dwellings and other forms of settlement, public roads, ferry routes, tourist destinations, established recreation routes or areas, and established viewpoints.
By putting our names to this petition we urge Orkney Islands Council to listen to the strength of public opinion against this huge turbine.
We feel very strongly that the 2 kilometre ‘buffer zone’ surrounding the town of Kirkwall should be recognised and no turbines should be granted planning permission in this area.
Letters of objection can be sent to: planning@orkney.gov.uk
You can also show your support by emailing nohatstonturbine@fsmail.net for more details and to request a ‘No Hatston Turbine’ poster to display in the windows of you homes, place of work or vehicles. We need to act now before it is too late.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The No Hatston Turbine petition to Orkney was written by NoHatstonTurbine and is in the category City & Town Planning at GoPetition.