Machrihanish Offshore Windfarm

[ionnsaigh]

Yes, but how much does Kintyre consume? We already have windfarms here in Kintyre that supply enough power for all the houses in Argyll.

So the wind farm is essentially surplus to the energy needs of Kintyre. The energy produced will disappear down the tube, all for the greater good. The same way as the timber whisky coal fish and turbines, very little in the way of benefit for Kintyre itself.

The idea of this proposed industrial complex of the coast is shocking in terms of aesthetics ( I wonder how the Irish feel about it ? ) Yes Kintyre requires investment, and long term jobs ( don't we all ) however at what cost . I would demand that they move the sea factory away from the Machrihanish vista. Furthermore the cost to the company, would be free energy for all in Kintyre.

[Isa]

I would demand that they move the sea factory away from the Machrihanish vista.

Where would you suggest?

[WC1]

Torness on the absolutely stunning East Lothain coast.

Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. I can't remember ever thinking of the East Lothian coast as "stunning". For much of the way you can't actually see the coast, as the road runs further inland. If East Lothian is "stunning", what superlatives could we find to describe the vistas down the west coast of Kintyre to the Mull, Ireland, Islay and Jura? The fact that bad things have happened elsewhere is no reason why we should accept a bad thing happening here.

Let's imagine, for the sake of argument, that this development was indeed proposed for the east coast, in an area where tourism is of significant importance and is indeed based and going to be based largely on golf. Let's imagine these 105 four-hundred-feet-high wind turbines were to be planted a kilometre off the West Sands at St Andrews, in full view of the Old Course (and the New Course, the Jubilee,the Eden, etc. etc.). There wouldn't be a local protest. There would be such a national and international outcry that the whole thing would be stopped dead in its tracks regardless of arguments in favour based on present and future energy needs or possible benefits (entirely hypothetical benefits) to the local economy. That's what should happen here.

[HWDT]

For marine mammals the main concerns relate to the effects of the powerful sound pluses produced by pile driving during construction. Potentially these could damage hearing as well as causing very widescale disruption and habitat exclusion. Hearing effects could extend to ranges of kms. Studies conducted in the Baltic and N Sea show porpoises affected at ranges of several tens of kms. In this case there is the added concern that much more sensitive species such as minke whales might be exposed. In the Mediterranean effects on baleen whales have been shown at ranges of 100s of kms.



Potentially, hearing effects could be alleviated by appropriate mitigation (though in our opinion the mitigation conducted at present is not 100% effective). Long range disturbance and habitat exclusion can only be alleviated by reducing pile driving source levels which is not practical in offshore waters.



Better information on effects, development of effective mitigation as well as good baseline information on the use that cetaceans use of these areas are all required.

[macmach]

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"

Wasn't aimed at you S6MMF. I have found your posts informative and something the local group will hopefully take on board during this process. It is the other numpties who think it is okay that I was aiming my post at. How can anyone claim to love somewhere and then support these proposals. Beyond me!

[level headed one]

Has anyone actualy identified the individual(s) who are responsible for the "decision making process" on the Wind Farm Development. IE: Number of Towers, siting of Towers, enviromental surveying, costing etc. Why aren't these people/companies contact details available to us? As it would be far more effective to address our efforts towards them & their reports? Who are they? What is their track records? Are there any "soft targets" amongst them? Are there any commercial irregularities that could be brought to the surface? How did SSE become the prime contractor for this project? It is an Eu Legal requirement that it should have been offered in the European Journal! Nobody has been able/wants to answer this, including SSE & SG.How much has the Crown been paid for this? If it is a small amount why was it not offered to the community?
The people/organisations who have most to loose from this are the ones who have made the largest investment. Do you really think that they will want to renovate x2 Hotels, build a Club House and a possible second course. They obviously are "experts" in Golf Tourism and they must feel they have been dumped on. We know the size of the SG grant that they were getting for these future developments, but do we know how much SG grant is for the development of the Offshore Windfarm? Golf Courses last for hundreds of years & give generations of local employment & pleasure & tourism. Offshore Windfarms 25-30 years max, bring NO pleasure, very little local employment & certainly tourism is DOWN at all the recently constructed ones in the UK.

[harbourmaster]

Let's imagine these 105 four-hundred-feet-high wind turbines were to be planted a kilometre off the West Sands at St Andrews, in full view of the Old Course (and the New Course, the Jubilee,the Eden, etc. etc.). There wouldn't be a local protest. There would be such a national and international outcry that the whole thing would be stopped dead in its tracks

And how do you know that for certain? You don't,it is just more assumption on your part.

It is the other numpties who think it is okay that I was aiming my post at.

And when all else fails, revert to childish name calling

[WC1]

Let's imagine these 105 four-hundred-feet-high wind turbines were to be planted a kilometre off the West Sands at St Andrews, in full view of the Old Course (and the New Course, the Jubilee,the Eden, etc. etc.). There wouldn't be a local protest. There would be such a national and international outcry that the whole thing would be stopped dead in its tracks

And how do you know that for certain? You don't,it is just more assumption on your part.

Well of course it is, but it's really quite straightforward to extrapolate from the size and composition of the 'contra' camp here to what would be likely in the hypothetical case I made for St Andrews, so it's a pretty safe bet really.

Edited by Mod4 to correct quotes

[Sheik Yir Erse]

I can't remember ever thinking of the East Lothian coast as "stunning". For much of the way you can't actually see the coast, as the road runs further inland.

Wow I can only assume you've never walked along the beach at North Berwick then? Or strolled along the hallowed links at Muirfield? Looked across to Bass Rock? Been in Gullane? Glad to see a view doesn't exist unless you can see it from out your car window

[Sheik Yir Erse]

Yes, but how much does Kintyre consume? We already have windfarms here in Kintyre that supply enough power for all the houses in Argyll.

Unfortunately macmach probably only about 20-30% of all the power consumed is for residential purposes. I don't know the correct figures but I'd guess that somewhere like Skycon might actually consume more electricity in one day than a fair percentage of the houses in Campbeltown put together. Add to that the power consumed by Creamery, Schools, supermarkets, council offices, farms, computers, etc.

Therefore what is the matter with the unsightly power station if it produces enough power for 300,000 houses in that area?

Now I don't know the intricacies of the electrical supply grid in Kintyre, but lets assume it comes from Hunterston (there are so many single-digit-post experts appearing I'm sure someone will correct me ) - your point seems to be that it's OK for the people on the North Ayrshire coast to be lumbered with a Nuclear Power station to provide Kintyre's power. However it's not OK for Kintyre to be absorb a wind farm to produce energy for itself or others. Or are we back to the "I'm all for windfarms, as long as it doesn't affect me?" arguement.

Why not put it on their doorsteps instead?

..........and that's the issue - it HAS been on many other communities doorsteps for decades, Kintyre has been very lucky to escape up until now.

I'll get back to being a "numpty" now

[WC1]

Wow I can only assume you've never walked along the beach at North Berwick then? Or strolled along the hallowed links at Muirfield? Looked across to Bass Rock? Been in Gullane? Glad to see a view doesn't exist unless you can see it from out your car window

I have walked along the beach at North Berwick - often - as it happens. It's by no means in the same league as Machrihanish. I prefer Gullane, but again, it's not in the same league as Machrihanish. Let's not get into this rather weird argument that other places are nice too so it's OK to ruin Kintyre, or that other places have horrible things like power stations so it's OK to plant a massive ugly great windfarm off Machrihanish. In my view, and it is indeed a personal view, East Lothian is nice but by no means spectacular. But that's irrelevant to what is proposed for Machrihanish. Here we have something truly spectacular and unspoiled. We shouldn't let them destroy it.

[mrsbagpuss]

Just a queery for anyone involved in schools. I am unable to goto the public exibition next week , and wondered if a representative for the education dept is attending to discuss possible opportunities for the schools in the area? I read in an earlier post (S6MMF) about investement going towards an eco schools officer and different programmes for primary and secondary children to get involved in. Also the question of possible apprenteships, work experience etc through Argyll College or the Grammer......?

I'm aware most of the people are probably going to raise issue with the project but I read Govan girls link -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8582865.stm
and was interested to see how the community was SLOW TO REACT - "You need to engage very early with the developers to establish exactly what their needs are. That means linking up with colleges and schools to make sure local people can get on the right kind of training courses to develop the skills they will need for these new jobs."

It might be worth remembering that although perhaps, (but not necessarily) the number of jobs on site will be initially limited, it is the opportunity for local children and young people to engage in and gain skills in a rapidly expanding industry which (horror of horrors) they might beable to gain employmeny in in the future, either locally or away- as like it or not as 'incomers' come to take up local jobs, locals too fly the coop and work outside their local community.

[WC1]

Just a queery for anyone involved in schools. I am unable to goto the public exibition next week , and wondered if a representative for the education dept is attending to discuss possible opportunities for the schools in the area? I read in an earlier post (S6MMF) about investement going towards an eco schools officer and different programmes for primary and secondary children to get involved in. Also the question of possible apprenteships, work experience etc through Argyll College or the Grammer......

I will be going along in my private capacity as an individual vehemently opposed to this proposal.

Unfortunately I can't make any comment through this forum in my official capacity about any of the issues raised in the pevious post.

[mrsbagpuss]

WC1 - I really do hope information can be obtained regarding opportunities for youngsters - as a parent I would have liked to discuss such things, (I may do so via email due to my being unable to attend).

Will there be anyone there able to ask some constructive questions with an objective mind on behalf of the young people who might benefit from this?

[WC1]

Will there be anyone there able to ask some constructive questions with an objective mind on behalf of the young people who might benefit from this?

Please don't imagine - or imply - that my personal view of this proposal hasn't been arrived at with an objective mind, or that my personal position will in any way impede my professional responsibilities.