Turbines or Tourism?

[brodyquixote]

bring on the 'dancing ladies'

if it gives work to the locals then i'm all for it!

[Han_OH]

Wow! Those pictures are stunning! What a pity, though, that the wider setting has been destroyed by so many turbines in such close proximity. That's just my opinion, of course, and each to their own, but as I said previously, I would go somewhere else with similar panoramic quality but which has been left unspoiled by such industrial structures. And clearly the turbines do distract a little from the view, as you have so many pictures of them!

[WC1]

OK, turn your back to them and enjoy the view. But how do the people living next to them feel about them?

Re the 'dancing ladies' - you don't actually see them when you're on Gigha, unless you go down that end. A bit like the Kintyre windfarms, apart from Tangy, which is why planning policy is to restrict them to the 'spine' of Kintyre.

[howlsatthemoon]

And clearly the turbines do distract a little from the view, as you have so many pictures of them!

The only reason I took pictures of them is because I have a relative who works in the wind farm industry and was just showing them the different types of structures there are.

OK, turn your back to them and enjoy the view. But how do the people living next to them feel about them?

This thread was about windfarms and tourism, if you wish to start another thread about living next door to them please feel free .

[Mod8]

As mentioned let's keep this one to Windfarms and Tourism - other posts moved to Subsidy thread.

[Sheik Yir Erse]

OK, turn your back to them and enjoy the view. But how do the people living next to them feel about them?

Re the 'dancing ladies' - you don't actually see them when you're on Gigha, unless you go down that end. A bit like the Kintyre windfarms, apart from Tangy, which is why planning policy is to restrict them to the 'spine' of Kintyre.

So are you saying they don't count on Gigha because 'you don't really see them unless you go to that bit of the island'? By the same logic the turbines at Glenbarr won't have any effect on tourism in Kintyre either - because you wont be able to see them from 99.9% of Kintyre?

Is it safe to assume the turbines on Gigha have had no detrimental affect on their tourist trade? (I'm sure details of any catastrophic impact would have been posted before now by the Nimby Brigade) Or have they actually seen evidence of this 62% reduction? It would seem like a very obvious (local) proof point as opposed to various surveys conducted at different locations?

PS. my 'Nimby Brigade' evidence:

Bexy (0)
North beachmore (0)
Magmeg (0)
Han_OH (0)
Democat101 (0)
Ejb (0)
Sewer (0)
daginge78 (0)
mankind (0)
Tracker (0)
Argyll tourist (1)

The above are forum members who have posted (often multiple times) against development proposals on the North Beachmore and Creggans wind farm threads. (The figures in brackets are the number posts these people made on the Machrihanish Bay Windfarms thread) Draw your own conclusions.

[Bexy]

Ok, Sheik Yir Erse, seeing as you have quoted my name in your last post, I feel I should reply! Firstly, being called a member of the 'nimby brigade' is not remotely insulting to me, I freely admit that I didn't feel so strongly about the erection of wind turbines, until it was proposed to put one up so close to my home. I have had the same view from my home since I was born there 28 years ago, and suddenly because someone feels the need to make some extra cash, this view is proposed to change radically - of course I am going to object, for that and many other reasons, mentioned previously! And lastly, just because I didn't post about the Machrihanish turbines on here, doesn't mean that I wasn't against them and that I didn't sign the petition against them, because I was, and I did!

[WC1]

My point was that visual impact is a major consideration which is why the planning guidelines as they stand are framed as they are. As for "nimbyism", I think that's off the topic of this thread.

[Han_OH]

PS. my 'Nimby Brigade' evidence:

Bexy (0)
North beachmore (0)
Magmeg (0)
Han_OH (0)
Democat101 (0)
Ejb (0)
Sewer (0)
daginge78 (0)
mankind (0)
Tracker (0)
Argyll tourist (1)

The above are forum members who have posted (often multiple times) against development proposals on the North Beachmore and Creggans wind farm threads. (The figures in brackets are the number posts these people made on the Machrihanish Bay Windfarms thread) Draw your own conclusions.

As someone on here has already said, you clearly have FAR too much time on your hands!

[LANDROVER ROGER]

Again to emphasise my feelings on the matter as a "tourist",wind turbines are not every ten yards from each other.I am interested in the breathtaking scenery and surroundings of Kintyre and not wind turbines.So to re-iterate ,it will NOT stop me from holidaying here or any other destination.See you in June and September!

[north beachmore]

Well, it seems that this tourist business operator has experienced serious problems..

TOURIST BUSINESS BLIGHTED BY WIND FARM

The Knabs Ridge wind farm near Harrogate, North Yorkshire has had devastating impact on the neighbouring caravan park, despite assurances from a Planning Inspector that it would have no effect on neighbouring businesses.

We quote from a letter from the owners:

1. Knabs Ridge is an 8 turbine wind farm some 430 meters from our park. The first four turbines were operational early 2008 and the final four became operational towards the end of August, 2008. The official opening of the Wind Farm was held 11th November, 2008.

2. This park has been in the family ownership for 28 years and throughout that time until the wind farm was operating, the number of vacant pitches each season has been on average eight. (The park has 159 static pitches and 57 touring pitches which are normally let on a season basis).

3. We began dramatically loosing customers once the wind farm became operational. (i.e. customers began moving their static and touring vans to other parks). This was most evident from end of season i.e. November 07 At the beginning of this season (April, 2009) we had 40 empty static pitches and 15 empty touring pitches).

4. When customers advised us they were leaving, the message was loud and clear that it was because of the wind farm. (some people on site would not have purchased holiday homes if they had known about the noise and unsightly appearance of them.

5. When potential holiday home buyers come to view the park now they are deterred as soon as they see the Wind Farm.

6. There were no other reasons why we should loose so many customers other than the adverse affects of the wind farm. For example:

a) Our pitch rental did not increase dramatically.

b) Other parks in the vicinity of Harrogate, that were well away from the wind farm have performed well over the last 12 months.

c) The rules of the park have not changed.

7. We have lost £91,360.00 in pitch fee income, plus trading, plus caravan sales approx £400,000. For the last two seasons we have not sold a new holiday home since the wind farm has been here!!!!!! We normally sell at least ten. The Inquiry Inspector, in his Report on the Knabs Ridge proposal, assured us all that tourist businesses would be unaffected by the turbines and we are most upset that we have now been left in this position.

Harrogate Council has received many complaints about the noise of the turbines. A noise monitor was erected in an adjacent field, some way from the caravans, and a report was produced that claimed no problem. More work is being commissioned.

I understand that in many other European countries large turbines must be sited at least 2 km away from properties. Had this been the case here, our business would not be suffering as it is now.

Yours sincerely

Jane Kershaw

[daisy]

Even if 10% to 20% of visitors are put off coming to Kintyre by too many highly visible turbines, of course that would have a very detrimental effect on businesses struggling to make a living from tourism income. Many visitors come here for the peace and tranquillity, the views, the beaches and the wildlife, not to see industrial development.

Ask the owners of Machrihanish Dunes/ Ugadale what they think of the turbines - you will discover that they formally objected to Machrihanish Offshore proposals and to Kilchattan on the grounds of negative impact on their tourism development.

[LANDROVER ROGER]

Just a thought.Is the tourism view being used as a form of nimbyism?

[daisy]

Just a thought.Is the tourism view being used as a form of nimbyism?

If nimbyism means people who care trying to protect special landscapes, unspoilt coastal environments and important wildlife habitats, then I'm all for it!

[LANDROVER ROGER]

Just a thought.Is the tourism view being used as a form of nimbyism?

If nimbyism means people who care trying to protect special landscapes, unspoilt coastal environments and important wildlife habitats, then I'm all for it!

That`s a "yes" then.