A NORTH-EAST businessman is battling a council decision to block his wind turbine scheme.
Peter Bruce, boss of industrial painting firm PBP Services, applied for planning permission to instal a single 260ft mast at Hallmoss Farm, south of Fraserburgh.
The turbine was intended to help the company reduce its carbon footprint by providing power for shot blast and painting work which is done at the site.
The scheme was rejected by members of the Banff and Buchan area committee in June last year, following concerns that it could have a potentially negative impact on views of nearby Inverallochy Castle, a listed ancient monument.
The small castle is believed to date back to the 13th century and now lies in ruins. It is thought to have links with the Abbey of Deer, on the edge of Mintlaw, and is one of several ruins in the Buchan corner which are known as the Nine Castles of Knuckle.
Councillors voted three-five against the single turbine plan, although they allowed a two-mast development at nearby Gowanfold Farm, Rathen.
Mr Bruce has now appealed to the Scottish Government in an effort to overturn the committee’s decision.
In a statement lodged on behalf of Mr Bruce, clean energy firm Green Cat Renewables argued that the turbine would not have a significant impact on the surrounding area. A spokesman said the castle was already surrounded by semi-industrial farm buildings and roads and a turbine would not look out of place.
Historic Scotland and Aberdeenshire Council’s archeology team did not object to the plan.
Local authority officials received two objections from locals, but also five letters of support. Neither of the opponents complained about the mast’s potential impact on Inverallochy Castle.
The appeal will now be investigated by a Scottish Government reporter and a decision is expected to be made in March.
The farm at Hallmoss was hit by a major blaze in September last year.
Three fire crews battled flames at a storage shed, which held shot-blasting equipment and machinery worth tens of thousands of pounds.