This page is now ancient history as the planning application for three wind turbines at Ascog Farm was submitted in October 2012, validated by Argyll & Bute Council on 29.10.2012 before being dismissed at planning on 22.03.2013 and, finally, killed off at appeal on 04.12.2013.
The whole, rather sad, story highlights the difficulty of getting onshore wind energy generating capacity built in Scotland (and many other parts of the UK) and remains online as an important archive which, we hope, may help guide more enlightened planning policies and dispel many of the myths surrounding renewable wind energy generation…
Nearly ten years on, we all know what wind turbines look like, most people accept them in the landscape and, in 2019, low-carbon energy generated the majority of the UK’s electricity for the first time.
To anyone newly embarking on this process, or to policy makers researching just how difficult planning for onshore wind can be in the face of concerted and often misguided opposition, please read the News Archive, which will last for posterity!
Here’s how things were back then…
As we have seen in the News those who oppose the development of onshore wind energy are always keen to make the loudest noise!
As pro-wind blogger Aeolus puts it, ‘Remember the statistics. Put 100 people together in a room. Just three of them will be out-and-out raving anti-wind loonies. Seven will be mildly disapproving of windfarms. Four will admit that they just don’t know. The rest – 88 out of the 100 [86 shurely? Ed.] – will be okay with windfarms, either totally in favour or not really bothered.’
If you are a member of that ‘silent majority’ this is your chance to make your voice heard!
To do so please:
- Visit the Argyll & Bute Council web page dealing with our planning application (link will open in a new Tab or Window in your browser)
- Complete the ‘Make a Comment’ form with your name and address details etc.
- Select the ‘Stance’ radio button to Support the application
- Add ‘Your Comment’ regarding the many merits of this scheme (lower CO2, community benefit, investment on Bute, potential visitor attraction etc)
- Submit the form. Your personal details are secure on the Council web site and cannot be accessed by this web site.
- If you are a Facebook user, please also Like Ascog Farm
We really want to get the support of as many people as possible lodged – especially on the Council web site but also on Facebook.
You may also write in support of the proposals to:
- Planning Department, Argyll & Bute Council, Kilmory, Lochgilphead, Argyll, PA31 8RT quoting reference 12/02202/PP
Please help to support our plans for community/renewable energy generation at Ascog Farm on Bute.
Pass the message on to relatives and friends:
- Ideally relatives or friends would live on, regularly visit or otherwise have close connections with Bute but this is not a pre-requisite.
- Do not forget that everyone in a household or family (husband, wife, grandmother, grandfather, aunts, uncles and children) may comment individually and the more support we have the merrier – gather everyone around the computer and get them all to support the application!
The ‘NIMBY’ anti-wind brigade will be using all these tricks so let’s try and make sure we beat them at their own game!