| The fear has been expressed by members of the Clatto Landscape Protection Group, which said that road safety concerns had been “completely ignored” by planning officials.
The comments by group spokesperson Morag Reilly come just days before the planning application from Scottish Power for the erection of 17 turbines at Clatto Hill is to be decided by councillors.
Mrs Reilly said that the minor road over the hill to Clatto goes very close to the proposed site for 17 300-foot high wind turbines.
“The Clatto Landscape Protection Group has tried to draw the council’s attention to all the blind summits and bends on this very narrow road,” she said.
“It is breathtaking that the council’s planning officials have left this issue out of the list of things upon which this planning application will be decided next week.
“The council’s local plan states quite clearly that driver distraction from wind turbines would be assessed in any planning applications for wind turbines.
“A few weeks ago our group drew the council’s attention to the potential dangers of the turbines to road users, as part of our objection to the proposal, but it has been completely ignored in the planning officials’ report – like so much else.”
Mrs Reilly pointed out that a planning application for three wind turbines at Balado in Perthshire was turned down by Scottish ministers last year.
The Reporter at a public inquiry, she said, had accepted the argument that the turbines would cause a danger to nearby road users.
“Every year, usually in winter conditions, at least one car leaves the road over Clatto Hill.
“Who knows what would happen if these massive turbines are ever built?
“As drivers come over the hill, the turbines would come in and out of view very suddenly several times.
“They will be a major distraction to many drivers on a road used by heavy goods vehicles as well as ordinary cars.”
The application is due to come before Fife Council’s environment and development committee next Monday. |
