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‘Fishermen at risk due to £250million north-east windfarm’
Credit: By Blair Dingwall | The Press and Journal | 26 October 2016 | www.pressandjournal.co.uk ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Concerns have been raised that a huge £250million floating windfarm off the north-east coast could pose a hazard for fishermen.
The Kincardine and Mearns area committee yesterday debated plans for a marine licence application for the Kincardine Offshore Windfarm.
Councillors raised concerns around local nature conservation sites and the development’s visual impact during their first debate on the eight-turbine scheme in June.
Marine Scotland requested “additional comment” from them yesterday.
The developer behind the proposals, Kincardine Offshore Windfarm Limited (KOWL), provided the committee with an updated environmental statement.
But Mearns councillor George Carr said safety issues should be a factored into the final decision on the plans for the 577ft turbines, which would be anchored roughly nine miles from the shore.
The council is a consultee on the project, which is being led by former deputy first minister Lord Nicol Stephen and Allan MacAskill, and will be decided upon by Marine Scotland.
Mr Carr said ships going into Aberdeen Bay may be put in danger on a days of “poor visibility” by the turbines.
He added: “We have got very little say in a lot of this. It would be interesting to see what a lot of fishermen think about this.
“I was just wondering whether it is sensible to put them in that location. It is an issue for Marine Scotland I suppose.
“There must be concerns about these aspects. It is a very busy shipping and fishing area, particularly at that distance offshore there.
“You just need to have a captain like the (Costa) Concordia.”
Council spokesman Stuart Murison said: “On the original environmental impact assessment that is one of the things that is covered. Fishery boards and harbour boards have been consulted as well.
“Overall we welcome the additional information and we welcome the clarity on what has come forward. We maintain our stance of no objection to the proposals.”
KOWL hopes a decision on the plans will be reached by the end of the year, with the first turbine at sea by spring in 2018.
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