Proposals to build wind turbines near Keith to go before the public
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PROPOSALS to build 16 turbines six miles outside Keith will go before the public later this month.
Wind farm company Vattenfall will hold public exhibitions later this month to present final plans for the redesign of the Aultmore Wind Farm proposal.
The proposal was originally consented in 2014 but advances in turbine technology led to a redesign of the scheme.
Vattenfall say the wind farm could generate enough electricity annually to power 84,000 homes, four times the amount of the original proposal.
The company held public exhibitions last year on the early design of the project.
Lucy Blake, Senior Project Manager for Vattenfall, said: “We are very grateful to everyone who shared their views with us on the early design during our consultation last year.
"Their feedback, together with our detailed environmental and technical surveys and key consultee input, has helped inform and shape the proposal. We feel that we have made meaningful improvements to the scheme as a result and look forward to presenting the final design at our upcoming August exhibitions."
The new proposal significantly increases the site's capacity and could provide a community benefit fund of around £18 million over its 35-year operational life cycle.
Ms Blake added: “In addition to the sizeable community fund that the project could provide, we want to work closely with the local supply chain. Independent analysis at our South Kyle Wind Farm in East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway has found that the wind farm’s development and construction spend within the local area amounts to £44 million. We want to build on this approach at Aultmore so that we can maximise the benefits to the local area."
The exhibitions will provide a variety of information, as well as the opportunity to meet the project team and discuss the proposal.
Four exhibitions will be held later this month.
Two will take place on August 30 with the first held at the Cullen Community Centre from 11am to 2pm and the second at Clochan Community Centre from 5pm to 8pm.
The final two exhibitions will be held the following day at Newmill Village Hall, from 11am to 2pm, and the Fisherman's Hall in Buckie from 5pm to 8pm.
The proposal is expected to be submitted into planning later this year.
Anyone wishing to submit feedback to Vattenfall on the final redesign plans for Aultmore Wind Farm can do so in writing from Wednesday August 30 by filling in a ‘comments form’ at the exhibitions or online.
