Machrihanish Offshore Windfarm

[WC1]

. . . I doubt there is enough open space for pre-assembly with the current ferry terminal set-up. Maybe with the proposed harbour extension this could be an option.

This would require the harbour front and town centre being turned into an industrial site. Surely this is not a serious possibility? People live within yards of that area.

[Kintyre Forum News]

Here are a couple of photos of the proposed site taken from the Scoping Document prepared by Chris Bell of S&SE. (for the purpose of this debate)

It is interesting to note the above pictures will feature in the scoping document currently being prepared by S&SE and are part of a panoramic view which does not highlight clearyly the scale of this development.

The Kintyre Forum does not wish to enter into the pros and cons of this debate but feels eveyrone is entitled to a clearer "picture" of the proposals.

The only picture which exists in the current scoping document is a panormic view from the Cuputcheon straight (just north of Bellochantuy) as per the link below. How far away could they go! The image is panoramic to reduce the impact of the windfarms and it is clear the light in the pictures have neen doctored to minimise the effect.

http://www.sse.com/SSEInternet/uploaded ... enbarr.pdf

Here is a normal size photo of what it would look like standing there.

[Sheik Yir Erse]

The problem here is that people seem to want to ignore that this is the price we pay for being an energy consumer. Kintyre has never really been faced with energy generation, and now it's finally coming around no-one seems that keen on it.

So the view from Stewarton looks like this........



If we assume that everyone in Kintyre is an energy consumer, we know that Wind is only part of the energy mix, so let's look at alternative views from Stewarton.......

Maybe we could have a coal fired powerstation, like they have at Longannet?



We could re-open the Argyll Colliery as an open cast pit to supply it



Perhaps we'd prefer our power coming from a nuclear source and we'd have panoramic views like those of Hunterston B, slightly further up the clyde?



Maybe we'd prefer a biomass power station to help with the green credentials?



Or we'd be lucky enough to have a geothermal powerstation on the Laggan



Something gasfired perhaps?



Or a nice big new hydro project?



We could get lots of local jobs with a nice re-processing plant, like the one at Sellafield



Unlikely we could have much need for a solar station, and anyway they're not that pretty either



Maybe we'd prefer the view shared by our countrymen on the East Coast?



Pumping oil to our beautiful oil-fired powerstation close by



And we'd have to put up with the odd accident, like the Gulf of Mexico



So, whilst I think it's far from ideal, perhaps it's the price we now have to accept for the amount of energy we consume. It will be a loss of a beautiful sight, but perhaps it will make us more aware of every drop of ernergy we consume.

This might upset some, but I don't think you can take the stance of "I'm all in favour of wind farms, AS LONG as the don't affect my view". You can't just say shift them round the coast, it still affects somebody's view. The whole thing is like saying "I'm all for the death penalty, just as long as it doesn't apply to me!"

The windfarm will come and the wind farm will go. Every house in Machrihanish will be standing long after they have gone. We'll all hopefully have the chance to appreciate the view without them, then with them, and then hopefully again without them in a few years time. They'll just be another man-made thing that will come and go in Kintyre. I love Machrihanish and I love the view, but unfortunately these are now just part and parcel of our modern world.

One thing for sure is that it IS coming, so get all the concessions possible, get all the guarantees you can, and use the opportunity to make a huge difference to the area - for the better.

Personally I think they're a lot better looking than the alternatives above. But as has been stated many times, beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder!

[A15 NMA]

This would require the harbour front and town centre being turned into an industrial site. Surely this is not a serious possibility? People live within yards of that area.

I think it would be fair to say the harbour is classed as an industrial area already..........

[WC1]

This would require the harbour front and town centre being turned into an industrial site. Surely this is not a serious possibility? People live within yards of that area.

I think it would be fair to say the harbour is classed as an indutrial are already......

But the enlargement of the pier and the infilling of the harbour will increase its area massively. This needs much more scrutiny.

If we assume that everyone in Kintyre is an energy consumer, we know that Wind is only part of the energy mix, so let's look at alternative views from Stewarton.......

This is a red herring. None of these things is proposed, and if they were, being on land they would be subject to much more stringent environmental impact studies and planning controls which would make it beyond unlikely they would ever go ahead. Let's not cloud the issue with this sort of nonsense.

[S6MMF]

Just a few point’s I would like to raise for everyone who is using Robin’s Rigg as an example.( please correct me if I’m wrong but this is my understanding)

The Foundations for Robins Rigg were manufactured in Belgium.

Correct

The towers and possibly the Nacelle’s were manufactured in Denmark.

Correct , towers were manufactured in Denmark, but bear in mind the Campbeltown tower factory is manufacturing both for UK and EXPORT – it works both ways that’s business, and to this day they are continuing to do so, don’t see your point

The towers and nacelles were shipped to Harland and Wollf in Belfast and all the fitting was done there.

Correct, However Belfast works only accounts for the pre-assembly work! All construction, installation, cable works, commissioning, testing then operations & maintenance occurred from Workington Cumbria.

The same towers and nacelles were loaded from there and taken to the site.

Correct

Now for that project I don’t see a lot of jobs being created locally from the construction stage. Belfast seemed to be the winner for this project.

Correct, Harland & Wolf Belfast have done well at selling themselves for nearly all of the west coast projects incl Robin Rigg (for the pre-assembly). The nature of the pre-assembly work requires a large workable port facility, which none of the Cumbria could accommodate nor could D&G! But this could be Something for Campbeltown to consider with the allegedly proposed harbour extension, instead of trying to hang onto a dead ferry service for the last 11 years (not enough tourists)

I also have a question for those working on these projects. Is Campbeltown Harbour deep enough and big enough to cater for these offshore barges that company’s like A2sea use ? Or are these turbines going to be laid up somewhere else

Strange question, how do you think most of the Manufactured towers have been getting out of Campbeltown for the past 10 years, on huge boats fit for transatlantic seas, offshore installation vessels are commonly flat bottomed designed to navigate in shallow waters, so Campbeltown harbour could easily handle this with ease, but this needs to be sold to them by our autorities, it won’t just come a knocking!
Hope this give you clearer understanding

[macmach]

Some of the posts on here supporting these proposals make me feel physically sick. I have lived in Machrihanish ALL my life and I come on the forum and am subject to views of people who do not live in my village. In fact, from what I can ascertain the ones doing the most shouting don't even stay in Kintyre!!

So if I don't like the view I have to simply go elsewhere in Kintyre? Can someone tell me how I am supposed to move my house to another location? Easily seen it isn't your view or house. I want to say more but feel like screaming at the computer!!!!!!!

[bassett]

Had a look at the pictures and thought it would be a lot worse .Much better than any of the pictures in Sheik's post.As mentioned earlier,if the community buy out of the air base goes ahead, there must be benefits from the wind farm towards that as well.

[Sheik Yir Erse]

This is a red herring. None of these things is proposed, and if they were, being on land they would be subject to much more stringent environmental impact studies and planning controls which would make it beyond unlikely they would ever go ahead. Let's not cloud the issue with this sort of nonsense.

It's absolutely not nonsense WC1, how do you think they got planning for all these projects in areas of equaly natural beauty? They needed the power so they happened. Don't for a second think that if there were plans drawn up to put a Nuclear station on Kintyre it wouldn't happen.

Kincardine was once a quiet fishing village on the Forth, then it got Longannet (oh and Grangemouth across the way). South of Largs you've got Hunterston. Torness on the absolutely stunning East Lothain coast. Dounreay on the equally stunning Caithness coast.

Kintyre has consumed energy for hundreds of years, but thankfully it's always been some poor other bugger's view that has been ruined.

If it was to be self sufficient in energy - where would it come from???? One thing is for sure it would have to be one of the forms of generation I posted above! Stick your head in the sand if you want, but it it's not wind it's something far worse, that will be here for a lot longer than 20 odd years!

[macmach]

I love Machrihanish

Do you? Do you really? One would think you have a grudge against Machrihanish the way you go on.

[S6MMF]

Had a look at the pictures and thought it would be a lot worse .Much better than any of the pictures in Sheik's post.As mentioned earlier,if the community buy out of the air base goes ahead, there must be benefits from the wind farm towards that as well.

I agree, there could be benifits for many but action is needed now though to ensure the best can be made of this situation. See attached link that Govangirl posted earlier, it is clear in this link that Ramsgate lost out due to their slow reactions (continual opposition not forward thinking) read paragraph "SLOW TO REACT" http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8582865.stm

Also for those who may or may not be interested, have a look at a press release I received today from the industry, not much comfort for those who oppose but it is slowly looking like a reality this my happen http://www.rechargenews.com/energy/wind ... 223703.ece

[Sheik Yir Erse]

One would think you have a grudge against Machrihanish the way you go on.

I can assure you that I definitely hold no grudge against Machrihanish.

My contention is reasonably straight forward: we consume energy, and have to accept the costs of doing so impacts our natural environment, whether it's a powerstation on your doorstep, oil slicks on your beach or a wind farm in the sea. This time, unfortunately, it's impacting part of the Kintyre coastline.

My point of view doesn't change depending on location, so whether it's Machrihanish, Motherwell, Mount Vernon or Middlesbrough, my arguement remains the same.

Anyway I've said my bit now so (unless called upon to respond) I'll leave the remainder of this emotive debate to others.

Glad to see it attracting so many newcomers to the Forum.

[macmach]

My contention is reasonably straight forward: we consume energy, and have to accept the costs of doing so impacts our natural environment, whether it's a powerstation on your doorstep, oil slicks on your beach or a wind farm in the sea. This time, unfortunately, it's impacting part of the Kintyre coastline.

Yes, but how much does Kintyre consume? We already have windfarms here in Kintyre that supply enough power for all the houses in Argyll. Your pictures and arguments are all based round the needs of the masses. Therefore what is the matter with the unsightly power station if it produces enough power for 300,000 houses in that area?

I have loved my life in Machrihanish for the simple fact that it is away from the rat race and masses. Now the masses appear to be controlling the beauty of my home! Lets ruin rural Scotland as we know it due to the needs of the cities etc! Why not put it on their doorsteps instead?

I'm sure you do love Machrihanish. Its easy you see. You, like the other supporters of the proposed INSHORE windfarm on here, will come and go and love Machrihanish. So if you do love Machrihanish why not show some support to those who stay here and oppose these proposals? You don't however know what it feels like to live and breath Machrihanish, to love a place like no other.

[In the know]

My point is S6MMF that Campbeltown and Skykon are not guaranteed to build these towers as other manufacturers are going elsewhere in the UK. These manufactures are tying up factory’s to build exclusively for them (check Maybe Bridge and Re-Power) Even Skykon has just bought a factory in Denmark to build Towers and foundations for the offshore market. Even if Skykon do build these towers what is to stop the developer shipping them to Belfast to do the final assembly. According to the Crown Estates only one site out of Kintyre ,Islay And Argyll Array will be allowed to connect to the grid in Northern Ireland . The rest will have to connect to either Hunterston or Deeside . Deeside is in England/Wales unless my geography teacher lied to me when I was in school. So where do you think all the energy produced from wind in kintyre will be comsumed ?

[S6MMF]

I'm sure you do love Machrihanish. Its easy you see. You, like the other supporters of the proposed INSHORE windfarm on here, will come and go and love Machrihanish. So if you do love Machrihanish why not show some support to those who stay here and oppose these proposals? You don't however know what it feels like to live and breath Machrihanish, to love a place like no other.

"my intention from the beginning was not to offend the people of Machrihanish but the provide an insight of what can be IF the proposition is approved, and to clear up any misconceptions - as I am are experienced in the whole process - I didn t say anything about wanting a windfarm in Machrihanish in particular. I thought my participation and experience might provide some insight and help. Indeed I am not residenct in Machrihanish Bay, but do consider myself a local, born and bread Campbeltownian, who happens to have lived elsewhere for 3 years"