VILLAGE TEAM BLOWN AWAY BY WIND FARM PLANS

Published 12 Aug 2009 14:45 10 Comments

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AN £8m wind farm could be spinning around in Neilston within two years.

The Neilston Development Trust (NDT) has joined forces with Carbon Free Developments (CFD) to propose the building of a three turbine community wind farm in the area.

This groundbreaking partnership, called Neilston Comnmunity Wind Farm (NCWF), is the first of its kind in the UK with CFD directing and funding the development phase.

If planning permission is approved NCWF will have the opportunity to own approximately half of the three turbine wind farms over the project's 25-year life.

And this share could earn the Neilston community up to £1m in yearly profits.

NDE aim to use cash earned from the wind farm to fund a selection of community projects described in the town's recently signed Renaissance Charter.

Because of these ambitions, NCWF was created to identify an appropriate high quality brownfield site and to provide the specialist technical skills and financial backing required for a wind farm.

NCWF want the views of the Neilston and surrounding area communities and meetings will be held on Saturday 22 and Sunday August 23 with another on August 28.

Alan Walker, chairperson of NDT, is hoping the plans will get the go ahead.

He said: "The key to this deal is the level of openness and collaboration between the two parties which will allow us to invest successfully in renewable energy projects for local benefit.

"It is our hope that Neilston will embrace the opportunity before us as the wind farm can provide key funding for the delivery of the community projects outlined in the recently ratified Neilston Renaissance Town Charter.

"This proposal presents an opportunity for Neilston to become an exemplar of ways in which communities can both reduce carbon emissions and regenerate the local area."

Dominic Farrugia, Managing Director of Carbon Free Developments, stated:

"We are delighted to be in partnership with NDT.

"We see Neilston as the first community in the UK, where we can roll out our unique collaborative development model.

"If the wind doesn't blow the town won't make any money but if it does blow, which I suspect it will, then they will make money."

The proposed site for the wind farm is south of Neilston near Kingston Road.

To comment on this story go to www.barrheadnews.com.

This article appeared in Barrhead News 12 Aug 09

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Unregistered User
Aug 13, 09:42
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I think this is disastrous for Neilston, as it is one of the few remaining green places left on the south side of the ever spreading Glasgow,

A walk up the Kingston Road on crisp November night, clear skies, stars in their millions or staring at wind turbines, I know which I prefer.

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David
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Aug 16, 21:54
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I agree totally with the "Guest" author of the previous post. Money is being used to buy approval for a commercial enterprise. There is much more featureless moor they could use (let alone going offshore in the North Sea), rather than the rolling grasslands with lochs and hills that give a much-needed breathing space to walkers and fisherman from more than just Neilston. Wind Farm Developers will always find people who will take money and give the impression that a community is for this. Just because Neilston is the closest town to the farm does not give people in it the "right" to remove yet more restful, accessible, green space from many more people.

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Lesley
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Aug 24, 10:27
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I did go to see the plans and talk to those proposing this but am still not convinced by this idea. The carrot dangling of the community receiving funds through this, however, may be too great for some to resist.

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Gordon Duffy
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Aug 24, 12:35
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I also went on Saturday to the exhibition and it was very clear to me that there was no 'carrot'. This project was initiated by the community as a 50/50 joint venture between community and adeveloper where half the project will be owned by the community. I wish more wind farms would be developed this way. And as for suitable sites, it's a bit of wasteground that was previously a landfill site between two lines of ugly pylons. It's hardly a beauty spot.

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Unregistered User
Aug 29, 09:58
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I was born in Springhill, raised in Neilston and now live on the North Coast, where there are rolling hills, endless barren moors and you guessed it, wind farms!

They are ugly, sprawling and spreading ever in land.

Neilston is fondly remembered as a dear green place,

Neilston is one of the few places left that has retained it's cultural identity, and that dear friends will be lost with the coming of the heavy industry, the wind farms, the lorries, the incoming workers, the erection of new homes to accommodate all concerned,

Neilston will become yet another dot on someone's map, on a wall in an office, somewhere!

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David
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Aug 31, 08:00
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It's amazing how one's appreciation of beauty can be affected when money is involved, even though you be careful not to mention that! Internet investigation shows that Gordon Duffy - an Edinburgh architect and on a Scottish Parliament Group on Renewable Energy - has been associated with commercial waste disposal. I have no quarrel with waste disposal schemes - just with enormous wind turbines in the wrong place. It is in his interest to support anything which might give him future work in the wind turbine industry, whether or not in the Neilston project.

In the small "brown field site" area where there was a tip, it has mainly been reclaimed by nature and is hardly visible from the Pad - though, if you know where to look, you can just about see it. The pylons are far from ideal (In Germany and Austria they have power cables underground for scenic reasons) but no excuse for adding 3 gigantic moving turbines, destroying the tranquil view from the Pad and for miles around.

And who is he trying to kid that there is no carrot?! The News reported that £1M per year was expected to go to Neilston.

Wind farms are gobbling up peaceful, recreational countryside at a tremendous rate. Our souls need nature. The reason they want to put a windfarm here, rather than on another bit of barren moorland, is because it is FAR cheaper to do so. Those who want to retain tranquil countryside are far "greener" than commercial developers, despite their "spin". (Sorry for the pun!)

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Gordon Duffy
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Aug 31, 21:19
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Dear David

I'm flattered you've spent so much time searching for me on the internet, however I'm sorry to disapoint you but you've got the wrong Gordon Duffy. You're obviously very passionate about the landfill site and seem not to have noticed the extensive fly tipping that covers the area, however I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Personally I'd prefer to see this wasteground put to use in such a way that benefits the majority of people who actually live in Neilston. Most of the people I've talked to welcome the opportunity and don't think it's going to spoil the area. You say our souls need nature, but does our community not need nurture? I guess you wouldn't agree.

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Unregistered User
Sep 1, 08:20
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I think this is a good project and to me it's a good location for a wind farm... a rubbish tip is rubbish a tip whatever way you look at it. A classic case of 'not in my back yard' and frankly a bit cheeky to suggest putting this on someone elses hill. If this project can reduce carbon emissions and at the same time do something to financially help local people then I'm all for it.

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David
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Sep 3, 08:43
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In answer to the last two comments. It is a terrible lie to suggest that this whole area is a tip. A tiny percentage of the land area, barely visible from the pad unless you know where to look (because it has been partly reclaimed by nature), is wasteland. The rest, currently visible for miles, is rolling farmland, with fishing lochs, hills, woodland - a place to be conserved rather than blighted with man's edifices. As far as the NIMBY accusation is concerned, it is simply bad-mouthing a serious point, without answering it. There ARE less beautiful and recreational areas. The previous commentators obviously believe that money in Neilston is preferable to leaving some recreational green space near to the Greater Glasgow conurbation for far more people to use. A few unelected people in Neilston should not be portrayed, as having the right to make decisions which affect far more people. Whether it is called a "community" project or not, it is developers' money that is financing the spin to make this project look respectable. What money is available to those who want to retain countryside that those who claim to be "green" don't care about but just think is a tip?

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Douglas
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Sep 3, 21:13
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Wind farms will always prompt strong views on either side of the debate. The NDT researched the project in the first instance, but under the Renaissance Town Charter it brought the proposal to a meeting of the Town Team, which is really a gathering of as many Neilston residents and business owners who care to attend, for consideration. In other words the project cannot progress without the democratic majority approval of the people of Neilston. I attended the meeting which discussed the NCWF planning phase and,after carefully listening to the debate, added my vote in favour of allowing the current preliminary work to progress. The point I am making is that it is not the NDT who make decisions; the whole community of Neilston has the opportunity to have their say and to vote in favour or against. I hope this project recieves support and goes all the way.

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