Great news! Re Braes of Boquhapple. The Reporter has dismissed the Appeals.

This was the crucial test case of Stirling Council's policies.
Although the Reporter considered other factors, the decision rested on landscape and visual impact:

'I conclude that the local circumstances and geography of the relatively small scale landscape in this area make a
73 m high to blade tip turbine unacceptable. This is because a turbine of this size in this elevated location would dominate its surroundings, particularly in what I regard as important views from the south, from where the ridge forms the foreground to a panoramic mountain skyline beyond. The appellant, in its response to SNH’s comments on the 4 applications, agreed that turbines of the size proposed at close proximity would inevitably dominate local views. In cumulative terms, any additional 73 m high turbines at Braes of Boquhapple would accentuate the adverse effects.'

Well done to the Thornhill group.

These two remaining ILI applications were unanimously refused by the Planning Panel on Tuesday, primarily because the applicant had still not provided the material requested.

At a special Public Hearing today,  Stirling Council's Planning Panel refused all four Boquhapple wind turbine applications.

Storm of protest over Loch Lomond wind farm plans. Herald Scotland

EVAG has learned that ILI have withdrawn applications for wind turbines at Kepculloch, Gowstone, Gribloch, Ballinton, Murdieston and Cuptree. They have left the applications intact at Mackeanston and Munnieston, which are near to the proposed site of the Boquhapple applications.

The Boquhapple applications will be determined by the Planning Panel through the Public Hearing procedure at Stirling Council Chambers, Old Viewforth, on Monday 17th October at 11.15 a.m.

EVAG will be in attendance to support the Thornhill Group who will represent the objectors and give a co-ordinated and comprehensive presentation to the Panel.

We should like to thank everybody who wrote letters of objection; the number received by the Council was a huge achievement at a holiday time of year and shows the depth of concern about the ruination of the West Stirlingshire landscape, and the impacts on local communities.

BATTLE FOR THE BONNIE BANKS OF LOCH LOMOND

27th July 2011 Press Release

The Endrick Valley Action Group (EVAG), which campaigned successfully against energy giant npower’s application for wind turbines at Ballindalloch Muir, has been re-formed.

Mary Young, spokesperson for EVAG, said: ‘The landscape of West Stirlingshire is again under threat, from the Carse to Loch Lomond itself. Impact on the tourist industry, one of the major drivers of the local and Scottish economy, would be huge, with the loss of many small businesses and jobs.’

Banks Renewables have submitted an application for a 60m wind monitoring mast and a Scoping Report to Stirling Council for up to twenty 328 ft (100m) turbines at Craigievern (Ard-Ghaoth), North East of Drymen and adjacent to the Trossachs & Loch Lomond National Park.

In addition, applications for fourteen wind turbines along the Carse and its environs have been submitted to the Council. These have primarily been lodged by ILI (Renewable Energy) and are mainly for turbines of 250 ft (76m).

The EVAG spokesperson said: ‘The turbines proposed at Craigievern (Ard-Ghaoth) are the same height as those at the Braes of Doune – higher than the Statue of Liberty. Those along the Carse would be taller than the Wallace Monument.

‘Visual impact, individually and cumulatively with wind farms already in existence, would be tremendous. It is inconceivable that tourists would have to drive through a wind farm corridor to get to Loch Lomond. And when they reach it, to take in the peace, tranquillity and beauty of an area which is renowned the world over, they would find that it, too, had been ruined. Visitors want to see the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond, not the turbines of Banks.’

‘People seem to have come away from the Banks’ exhibition in Drymen with the belief that the proposal is a ‘done deal’, that it would be happening within weeks and that Stirling Council had purposefully delineated the area as capable of supporting a wind farm. EVAG is informing everybody of the lengthy processes which have to be undergone, and that Stirling Council’s Policy & Guidance makes it quite clear that the capacity to accommodate additional large turbines is considered to be severely limited.

‘The EVAG team has been heartened by the support it has received, even in these early days, but it is conscious that many people who would be visually impacted upon are not aware of the proposal or the applications in place. If anyone requires further information, or can offer help with the campaign, we would ask them to contact EVAG at support@evag.co.uk, to visit the website which is under construction, www.evag.co.uk, or to ring 01360 661451.’