Western Isles planners have controversially approved building a contentious wind turbine some 30 miles from a military radar base despite a history of being taken to court by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Council chief executive Malcolm Burr warned councillors of a recent case, where the
local authority lost a recent high court judicial review when the MoD stopped a number
of turbines at a distance from an air defence radar -
In further similar cases, the Scottish Government refused permission following planning hearing for turbines for a community wind scheme by Clachan, North Uist, beside the Dark Island Hotel in Benbecula and two turbines on a croft in Bornish South Uist.
Nevertheless, on Tuesday, eight out of 11 councillors on the planning committee approved erecting a wind generator at the Askernish Golf Club in South Uist.
The decision is likely to be called-
Though it would replace a smaller machine on the site, the MoD objected to the 10kW turbine which has a 22.5 metre height.
The military agency insisted it will cause unacceptable interference to the radar.
The MoD objection said: “Wind turbines can have detrimental effects on the operation of radar which include the desensitisation of radar in the vicinity of the turbines, and the creation of "false" aircraft returns.
“The probability of the radar detecting aircraft flying over or in the vicinity of the turbines would be reduced, and the RAF would be unable to provide a full air surveillance service in the area.”
Planning officials recommended refusal but Cllr David Blaney insisted on making a motion to approve.
Mr Blaney said: “Any impact would not be significantly adverse given the existing wind turbine in the same place.”
He added: “A turbine has been operating there for long enough and if it has been interfering with the radar then the MoD has not taken steps to remove it.”
Due to identical MoD objections, the same committee refused permission for Scottish water to erect a total of nine wind turbines at treatment plants at North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist in addition to an island resident’s bid to build a turbine near his house at Snishival, South Uist.
Planners approve contentious turbine in defiance of MoD
25 November 2014