A series of photo montages was shown at Saturday’s public meeting, simulating the effect Cove Community Wind Farm would have on the view from a range of locations.
Trust convener Murdo MacDonald said the five turbines, with a total height of 92.5 metres would follow the 130m contour line, recommended by designers as it created an ‘arc’.
He said the only place in Cove and KIlcreggan where they would be seen was near the former pier site in Cove, where the tips of the turbines could be seen, but then agreed when a member of the audience pointed out they would also be visible from Barbour Road.
He stressed that habitation was the key when assessing the wind farm’s impact in terms of landscape design.
They would not be visible from the shoreline on the far side of the Gareloch, for example in Rhu and Shandon, but montages showed the effect from hills above Helensburgh.
“The most crucial point of view is obviously looking from the other side of Loch Long,” he said.
That area is part of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, and Mr MacDonald said the trust’s most recent meeting with park officals had been the previous Thursday: “We are talking to them and we are trying to allay their concerns.”
The wind farm would be visible from Shepherd’s Point at Ardentinny and all five turbines would be seen from Blairmore pier.
From Strone Point, he said: “You can very clearly see the turbines but they are all clearly back-clothed by the hills over the top of Glen Fruin.”
The turbines would also be seen from Dunoon, ‘but they are back-clothed’.
Trust members will meet Rosneath and Clynder Community Council on Monday night to discuss their plans, then travel to Kilmun, Blairmore and Ardentinny to meet representatives later next week.
The turbines could also be seen from Craig’s Top at Greenock, but he said: “All you can see is a couple of blade tips”
“You would have a very difficult job arguing that that is obtrusive.”
From McInroy’s Point at Gourock they would also be seen: “But they are not very prominent and are back-clothed.”
Inverclyde Now and the Greenock Telegraph (paywall article) reported last week that views from that area would be affected by the plan but residents would have the chance to comment after an application was submitted.
The outcome from the visit to Strone and Blairmore will be interesting.
I see there’s an agenda for the next trust meeting which says something along the lines of changing the constitution so people out with the area can benefit if the board wants to do this. Coincidence? Cash on offer? In addition to the 300+k we are promised here?
It seems reasonable given the magnitude of the sums involved; the west side of Loch Long will have the clearest sight of the windmills, so it would be equitable to share the rewards beyond the peninsula. I guess it could be interpreted as bribery, but I think that’s a little cynical given the nature of the development.
where is that listed please?
Zak: do you mean the agenda? If so, I saw one on the noticeboard in Cove as I drove past this morning (not that I could see very much at all in the fog!)
yes I was referring to that – I did reply to ‘who do you think you are kidding’ comment. Is it available on the Trust website?
Zak: It’s on the website now – http://www.rosneathpeninsulawest.com
So is the 300-400K including the cash – presumably many thousands – which you describe as bribes, DB?
May I ask where, what viewpoint or location, precisely, the pic at the top of your pages was taken?
Zak: do you mean the pic used by this website? If so it’s the bus stop at the bottom of School Road in Kilcreggan
Not the one you have boxed in the reply – the header strip at the top of each page
Think it’s the same answer -0 sorry if we’re talking at cross purposes here.