Eisenhowers defeat wind farm proposal
Credit: By Nick Drainey, Scotland On Sunday, scotsman.com 11 September 2011 ~~
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The fighting spirit associated with General Dwight D Eisenhower shows no signs of diminishing.
A controversial proposal to build a wind farm close to the Ayrshire home of the Supreme Allied Commander has been withdrawn, after objections led by his granddaughter.
Banks Renewables, based in County Durham, had applied to build 15 turbines on a hill overlooking Culzean Castle, designed by Robert Adam in the 18th century.
In 1945, Eisenhower was given the tenancy of a specially created guest flat on the top floor of the cliff-top castle, a gesture of thanks from the 5th Marquess of Ailsa and the Kennedy family for America’s support during the Second World War and his role as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe.
But news of the wind farm proposals made the former president’s granddaughter join a chorus of disapproval. Susan Eisenhower, head of Washington’s Eisenhower Institute, a policy think-tank, and an authority on foreign policy and security issues, said: “There are many places where wind farms can be built, but there is only one Culzean Castle with its magnificent sweep of views.”
Now, after five years of complaints, Banks Renewables has withdrawn its application to South Ayrshire Council for planning permission.
The company said the decision was made after the council’s planning officers said in a report the scheme should be refused at a planning committee meeting scheduled for Thursday this week.
Phil Dyke, development director at Banks Renewables, said work would continue to find a way to build a wind farm in the area. He added: “Power generated by onshore wind farms such as Knoweside has a crucial role to play in meeting the UK’s energy generation requirements for the foreseeable future, and this is especially the case in Scotland, where the Scottish Government is firmly committed to producing all the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020.”
A spokesperson for the National Trust for Scotland, which manages Culzean Castle, said: “The Trust is broadly supportive of well-designed renewable energy developments in suitable locations. In this case, we were very concerned that the development would have significant impact on the character of the castle.”
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