Machrihanish Offshore Windfarm

[jowett63]

It has been a beautiful April and i have seen gorgeous sunset after gorgeous sunset off of Machrihanish as the setting sun has marched a wee bit further north along the horizon each evening and is now setting behind Islay again. This natural wonder will be defaced by this depressingly industrial development.
I have read back through this thread and nobody seems to have mentioned the obvious alternative..wave power. It blows 80% of the year on the Kintyre coast, but there are waves 98% of the time. It is renewable and would have far less visual impact..just like boaties on the horizon. I know that wave technology is far behind that of wind power technology, but trials are happening in various places around Scotland and if construction here is not planned until 2014, there is time enough to wait to get the right solution. Waves are the best, constant natural resource we have and even the wind power skeptics find it hard to dismiss the potential contribution they could make.

[StephenJ]

I notice that Islay has been named the number 9 destination in the UK for European travellers:

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Edinburgh-the-only-UK-city.6270061.jp

I wonder if the popularity will be affected when the view from half the island will be of a hundred massive windmills?

[SBpete]

waves 98% of the time

I wish!

[Kintyre Forum News]

Couple of meetings that people should be thinking of attending.

I wanted to make you aware that we have public exhibitions coming up for the Kintyre Offshore Wind Project.

The events are as follows:

Thursday 5th August Campbeltown Town Hall 2pm to 8pm

Friday 6th August Machrihanish Golf Club 11am to 2pm

It would be great to see you at one of the events.

Best regards,

Chris

Chris Bell
Corporate Affairs
SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy)
16 Robertson Street, Glasgow, G2 8DS
T +44 (0) 141 225 8488 M +44 (0) 7834 186 092 Press Office +44
(0) 845 0760 530
E chris.bell@sserenewables.com Web www.sse.com

[Pans Lass]

The Locals of Machrihanish Village and beyond are holding a Public meeting in the Machrihanish Village Hall on Wednesday 21st July at 7.30pm regarding the proposed Kintyre Off Shore Windfarm. Please come along and let us know your views.

A local photographer will have on view what it will look like with the 105 ,400 feet high , windmills proposed along our Kintrye coast , spoiling our beautiful view and the knock on effects it will have on tourism and the environment so please come along and give your support if you are opposing the above.

[Ags]

Thanks for posting that Pans Lass - see you there!

[Mack]

Sorry, I don't care whither you call me NIMBY or not, I simply don't want 105 large wind turbines in Machrihanish Bay. They bring nothing to the local economy, in fact they detract from it in terms of development of tourist orientated projects. Prime example - the second course at Machrihanish Dunes is suspended until a decision is taken on this proposal. Who can blame them!

As for the wind turbine plant at Machrihanish possibly getting the business if approved - no chance! Off shore wind turbines of this size already have experienced contractors in place. Chances are we will gain absolutely nothing and lose our prime assets - an area of outstanding beauty and, the many tourists who are attracted by the same.

[easypeasy]

The largest windfarm in Europe is at Whitelees in the moors above Eaglesham, Glasgow. This is an area I have walked in for many years. The area has lost it's magic. There are still the views of Arran and Ailsa Craig but the atmosphere has changed. It is dominated by the enormous wind turbines and one no longer feels at one with nature. I think the same will apply to walking on the beach at Machrihanish, the special feeling of being away from the rat race will be lost. This will detract from the experience vistors have in visiting this area.

[daisy]

Is Kintyre not already doing more than enough to contribute to the renewables sector? We have Beinn an Turc, Beinn an Turc 2 under construction and Tangy. As far as i'm concerned, we have sacrificed enough of our beautiful countryside to industrialisation already, without the need for more windmills offshore at Machrihanish, and onshore at Ballygroggan, at Southend (Kilchattan) and at Carradale (Cour).

The last tourism impact study showed that the greatest negative impact comes from windfarms dotted here there and everywhere amidst beautiful scenery - and if we aren't careful, Kintyre will be exactly like this. It''s difficult enough to raise the profile of the area for tourism as it is.

I might be more open-minded if the technology was proven, but it is simply neither reliable enough nor efficient enough to compensate for the destruction. All that is proven is that it lines the pockets of the fat cats at the energy companies and helps the government tick boxes on spurious targets.

[williejohn2]

So.......what now ??, how do we stop this ??, how can we prevent OUR coastline (one of the most beautiful in Scotland) from being ruined by these things ?
Or......is it already a done deal ? - been a boat off Machrihanish ALL weekend (still there at midnight last night) working it's way back and fourth - surveying the seabed ?.....one can only assume. (and it looked FAR closer in than 3 miles!)

[kintyre 84]

I will be at the public meeting tomorrow night and only hope it will be constructive.

There seems to be a perception that it is a "done deal" but I hope that something can be done to prevent the proposed positioning of these massive towers. I am not against them in principle, but feel that positioning them at least a mile further round the coast would be a preferred option to locals.

[Hels]

I heard that a similar meeting was held on Tiree recently. Apparently (although this was second or third hand) the locals were told it doesn't matter what they do - the proposal will go ahead regardless.

[Ross]

Can't make it to the meeting myself due to work commitment, however a few of the local surf crew have said they will be there to voice the concerns over the effect of an offshore windfarm on the local area swell conditions. Surfing in Kintyre has been on the increace year on year and encourages many surfers from Scotland and the rest of the country to visit the area. As has been mentioned before one of the most amazing things about this area is the peace the quiet and the beautiful scenery and sunsets. There are miles and miles of unpopulated coastline around our island so why not put the turbines where they will have less of an impact on the local community.

[Ship called Dignity]

The Locals of Machrihanish Village and beyond are holding a Public meeting in the Machrihanish Village Hall on Wednesday 21st July at 7.30pm regarding the proposed Kintyre Off Shore Windfarm. Please come along and let us know your views.

A local photographer will have on view what it will look like with the 105 ,400 feet high , windmills proposed along our Kintrye coast , spoiling our beautiful view and the knock on effects it will have on tourism and the environment so please come along and give your support if you are opposing the above.

Look forward to an update from anyone attending the meeting. Hope someone can possibly post the photo too? (or PM me who it is and I will see if I can get a copy for the forum - it would add considerable weight to the discussion, I am sure)

[Ninja Mania]

Fantastic turn out for tonight's meeting, amazing. There is a lot of people in Kintyre and the surrounding area's going to be seriously affected by this windfarm.
I think it would be in everyone's interest to write their objection's in person too..

Offshore Windfarm Consultation
Marine Scotland
Area 1-A (South)
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ

There is a new committe of 10 formed to deal with this matter, hopefully one off them will post updates and extracts from the minutes on here.
If you have objection's about the siting of this windfarm then you have to voice them now, BEFORE ITS TO LATE.