A windfarm company which was refused planning permission to erect a windspeed testing mast on an Inverness-shire hillside it earmarked for a windfarm, is trying to obtain the data from other sources.
Members of Highland Council’s south planning committee defied the advice of officials and voted overwhelmingly to reject ABO Wind’s proposals for a 262ft testing mast at the Highland beauty spot.
The German company had hoped to install the device west of Beauly, near Urchany and Farley Forest, to assess conditions for a 25-turbine windfarm at Allt Carach, on the southern flanks of Glen Strathfarrar.
The council received 276 objections to the mast plan, some from as far away as Australia and Washington DC in the USA. Campaigners said they were delighted councillors had listened to them.
The energy company is still pressing ahead with an “indicative” development timetable, however.
Project manager Tom Harrison said today they had not decided on whether to appeal the mast refusal, but he stressed that they do need the data “to see if we have a windfarm or not.”
He said a strong opposition group fought the windspeed mast and added: “Hats off to them. The refusal was a blow to us, but we are not going to not try and get the information.”
He added that ABO plan forming a community liaison forum comprising local representatives of community councils, businesses and near neighbours along with arranging public displays locally.
They hope to be in a position to have a scoping opinion on a possible application by next month and move to a planning application early in 2015.