Plans for a proposed new wind farm near Loch Lomond are set to go on show at three public exhibitions taking place in Drymen later this month.
Hamilton based, Banks Renewables, will start a public consultation process regarding the proposed Ard Ghaoth scheme, planned for a hill to the north east of Drymen and a few miles east of Conic Hill on the West Highland Way.
It is expected that the plans will be for 20 turbines 100 metres high. Local people will get their first chance to look at the plans at exhibitions taking place between 3pm and 7pm on Monday 20th, Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd June at the Buchanan Arms Hotel on Main Street in Drymen.
The relevant planning authority is Stirlingshire Council which has issued planning guidance identifying the area as potentially having the capacity to accommodate a wind farm. A scoping report on the scheme and a planning application for a wind monitoring mast, are about to be submitted to the Council for review and ecological and ornithological surveys are being carried out on site. It is understood that the site lies just outside the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park bondary but that the National Park Authority will be involved in the planning process as a neighbouring authority.
Colin Anderson, director at Banks Renewables, said, “Feedback from local communities always plays an important part in shaping all the planning applications that we put forward; and these events will enable local people to get more information about the proposal, give their opinions directly to us with the benefit of having a clear understanding of what is proposed, and to ask any questions they might have about the scheme.
“Whilst the proposed site has been identified within an area that potentially has the capacity for a wind farm we are also well aware of central Stirlingshire’s importance as a gateway link to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs. We have therefore already commenced a number of very detailed studies that will help us to prepare a comprehensive planning application and environmental statement which fully takes account of the setting of the site.”
Banks Renewables says that if planning consent is granted the wind farm would be able to donate a significant amount to the local community in a benefits package and that the consulation will focus on what the priorities and key issues facing the local communities are.