Update of the North Fife Map

This is the latest map of the area, with the following additions:

Blairadam 70m anemometry mast

Dean Plantation 70m anemometry mast

Hilltop Farm 2 x 130m Wind Turbines

Craigluscar Tank House 27m Turbine

Click here to view the link in Google Maps

Fife Council releases new policy guidelines on Wind Energy

Spot Fife has given a warm welcome to the new policy guidelines referring to Wind Energy. We believe it provides the Planners with a set of tools to properly scrutinise potential developments with small numbers of medium sized turbines, however we are concerned about the minimum distance between a turbine and a dwelling being only 10 rotor diameters to protect from shadow flicker. We have found no research to provide the efficacy of this rather arbitrary measurement, in fact there is plenty of research that shows this does not provide enough protection to householders.

To find out more, you can download the guidelines here:
http://admin.1fife.org.uk/uploadfiles/publications/c64_Item08-combined6.pdf

Newington Farm wind turbine rejected (The Courier)

The construction of a wind turbine north of Cupar has been prevented after those behind it refused to provide councillors with further details of the potential for noise nuisance.

The Browns, of Inverdovat Farm, Newport, wanted planning permission for a 41.5m turbine at Newington Farm, near Luthrie. Electricity from the turbine would have been used for farm cold stores, with surplus sold to the national grid. However, the application was knocked back by Fife Council's north-east Fife area committee, which was told that the information it requested a month ago about acoustics at the nearest residential properties had been declined.

Howe of Fife and Tay Coast councillor David MacDiarmidproposed the turbine should not be built as it could createnoise nuisance, would harm the landscape and impact visual amenity.

He said, "We asked for more further noise information, the applicant has refused and we are being asked to put through this wind turbineapplication."I still don't think we have the information we need."

Cupar councillor Roger Guy said, "I find it difficult to see why we are proceeding with this application without sufficient information on noise." After being asked to provide more specific data after a meeting last month, the applicants simply referred to wind turbine guidance for turbines of that category.

Planner Mary Stewart told the committee that that guidance had been followed and that the councillors' request was above and beyond what was normally expected.

Her department recommended that consent be given with a condition that the turbine operated below a set noise level.

Creich and Flisk Community Council was pleased with the outcome.

Chairman Alan Evans said, "Although potential noise nuisance was considered important, it was the effect of this sizable structure on the sensitive rural landscape around Moonzie and also on the adjacent Tay coast special landscape area which seemed to sway the committee.

"The overriding consideration when judging development proposals in designated landscape areas is that they must either maintain or enhance the landscape and in this case that clearly could not be achieved with a structure of this size at this exposed site."

He added, "It was noted that the proposal breached many of Fife Council's own planning policies and we are very pleased that councillors used this as an effective tool to maintain the unspoilt landscape character of this area."

See article

Wind industry and Decc urged to come clean on output of wind farms - theecologist.org 4/5/11

With a new analysis showing UK wind farms operating at just 20 per cent of their capacity in 2010, the potential of wind power has been called into question. Eifion Rees examines the arguments from both sides

The efficacy of wind power has been called into question by a new report suggesting wind turbines are not living up to their billing by government and industry. Opponents are now urging both to make public data they hold on wind power.

Read full article:

http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/873232/wind_industry_and_decc_urged_to_come_clean_on_output_of_wind_farms.html

Energy Prices to increase Fuel Poverty - BBC

Quarter of Households predicted to turn-off Heating

Rising fuel bills may force a quarter of homes to turn off their heating at some point next winter, a price comparison site claims.

Uswitch says that last winter, an estimated 20% of people it surveyed had regularly turned off their heating.

And it predicts that with fuel tariffs expected to rise, the number will be higher this year.

The Bank of England said this week that gas prices could rise by 15% later this year, and electricity by 10%.

'Pray for a mild winter'

Uswitch said that a survey of almost 1,600 of its customers carried out in January had indicated that 20% of them had turned their heating off regularly in order to save money last winter.

The firm's spokesman Ann Robinson, the former chairman of Energywatch, says: "This time it's going to be a minimum of 25%."

Read Full Artcicle:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13394095

Make sure your objection counts

Planners turning "Objections" to "Neutral"

This week a Fife Planning Case Officer notified SPOT Fife that it was common practice to adjust the "stance" of Comments made, from "Objecting" to "Neutral" if they deemed the content of the objection did not contain Material Considerations.

Make sure your views are heard and not changed by following these guidelines.

Click here to download guidelines

Another Application

There has been another application this week. This time from Steelend Farm, for 6 x 19.36m Turbines.

This is how the map is now looking:

Click here to view in Google Maps