A SERIES of public meetings to discuss controversial plans for a £200million windfarm off the coast of Aberdeen will get under way next week.
The blueprint for the so-called European Offshore Wind Development Centre includes 11 giant turbines measuring up to 640ft high, twice the height of Big Ben. They would be positioned one-and-a-half miles from the coast between Balmedie and Bridge of Don.
Earlier this month an application was lodged with Scottish Government agency Marine Scotland by Vattenfall, Europe’s sixth-largest electricity generator, subsea engineering firm Technip, and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group.
Billionaire Donald Trump has criticised the proposed location because of its proximity to his £750million golf development at the Menie Estate.
Detailed plans for the project will go on show at venues across the north-east for the public to have their say, starting on Monday at the Palace Hotel at Peterhead.
Consultation events will also be held at the Udny Arms, Newburgh, on Tuesday and the Kirk Centre, Ellon, the following day. Events will also be held at the Whitehorse Inn, Balmedie, on September 1 and the Doubletree Hilton, Beach Boulevard, Aberdeen, on September 2. The plans will be open to view from 2pm to 8pm at each location, with the formal consultation process due to end on September 16.