Local residents urged to share their views on Vale of Leven Windfarm plans

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Gartocharn resident has written to First Minister Humza Yousaf with concerns over plans for a windfarm in Alexandria.Glasgow based renewable energy company Coriolis Energy are behind the proposals, which would see up to 10 turbines of up to 250m in height built on land at Auchenreoch Muir.If approved, the 70MW turbines would be the largest in Scotland.However resident Alex McEwan has now written to the FM expressing fears over the impact the development could have on the landscape around Loch Lomond, and on the amount of energy the proposed turbines could generate.In his letter, Mr McEwan - who would be one of the closest residents to a turbine - says: “It is the current proposal to site a wind farm on land above the Vale of Leven very close to the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park boundary, which would if consented have a highly negative impact upon our iconic landscape, the turbines being of perhaps unprecedented height so close to major habitation and such a sensitive landscape.“The southern setting of the National Park would be severely compromised.“This destructive impact would be out of all proportion to any possible potential benefit to our community or indeed our wider need for renewable energy.“I won’t go into detail here but with a maximum output of only 70 Megawatts the contribution to our likely ultimate need of more than 20 Gigawatts would be minuscule.“The proposal is currently before the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit, the final decision to be taken by your ministers and as such falls within your immediate purview.“The aesthetic cost to a precious, world renowned landscape far outweighs any benefit that it might bring.“The only significant beneficiaries here are the developers; it is