Met mast planning application

The planning application for the anemometry mast has been submitted to Fife Council's development services. Any wind project of this scale needs a full year's wind speed data, which this mast will collect. There was some concern locally when the application went in, as it was submitted in the name of Richard Black, the landowner and was for a period of five years, rather than the one year for which the data is actually required. This is standard practice for this kind of application: it is easier to put the landowner down as the applicant, rather than have to copy all the correspondence to them; it's also sensible to apply for more time than you need, in case the project over-runs at all.

We can reassure everyone that the project is still very much a Newburgh Community Trust project, run by and for the community.

Project Manager appointed

We are pleased to announce that Ecodyn Limited has been appointed to manage the wind power development project on behalf of the Trust. Ecodyn's job is to manage the planning application and environmental impact assessment but also to work on the economics of the project, the management structures required to make it work and to work with other interested parties to encourage best practice.

Ecodyn is a multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy, based at Fliskmillan Steadings, just outside Newburgh. They are always happy to discuss the project with anyone, so feel free to get in touch.

Contact details are on their website at http://www.ecodyn.com

Climate Challenge Fund

We probably should have announced this ages ago but things have been a bit on the hectic side.

Our application to the Climate Challenge Fund was successful!

Newburgh Community Trust has been awarded everything we asked for. Particular thanks go to all those who signed the slip saying they were in favour of the project, and why. The CCF were particularly impressed with the way that a complete cross-section of the community were willing to put their names behind it. The youngest supporter was six and it would be indelicate to reveal the age of the oldest.

This funding will pay for specialist consultants to prepare an environmental statement, which is required to support a planning application. It will also pay for a project manager to represent the interests of the Trust and ensure that, if planning is approved, we are able to take the next steps to make the project a reality.

These two appointments are currently out to competitive tender but things should really start moving once they are made and we will keep you up to date with further developments.

Thinking small, thinking big

Sometimes I hesitate before separating my waste. Especially the small things - like metal screws, or plastic lids. Or tearing off the plastic bits when recycling cardboard packaging. ‘I could spend my life doing this’ is what it sometimes feels like.

It’s a state of mind that says ‘be careful’ in every area of day-to-day activity. Trying when I’m cooking to use the minimum of heat and not to forget to turn down the gas. When boiling the kettle, only filling it with what I need or flasking the excess.

So the idea of being able to help the environment with such a large-scale initiative as the Newburgh Wind Project excites me.

The fact that only 2 turbines could generate electricity equivalent to the entire needs of Newburgh I find astounding. In global terms of course it’s still minute, but if we can encourage other communities to follow our example, then it could lead to meaningful change.

I have lived in Newburgh for just 2 years and in Scotland for 22. I’ve felt more at home in this wee Fife town than I could have imagined - being a dog walker helps - so. I feel slightly uncomfortable about being involved in something that has the potential to really upset some people who’ve lived here all their lives. What I want even more than the wind turbines is for the local people to want them, and then, if and when they go up, to enjoy the satisfaction of seeing something they had a hand in, producing green energy right here on our doorsteps.

The drop-in day on 4th June was for me an important opportunity to listen to the real concerns of the locals, and to explain what I feel about the project and being involved in it. Though the main vibe was really positive, some of the people who turned up expressed opposition, in one or two cases quite vehemently. I did feel however that this was within a context of mutual respect, with everyone feeling able to freely express their views.

I would urge any Newburghians out there, whether they made it on 4th June or not, to make use of this blog to honestly air their opinions, whatever they may be.

And no matter what happens, it still won’t stop me recycling old screws - well most of the time anyway.

Dave J Ford, member of the Wind Farm Action Group

www.davejford.co.uk

Climate Challenge Fund application

An application to the Climate Challenge Fund was submitted following the public consultation exercise and drop-in day at the TICC. CCF are currently checking this to make sure all the relevant information has been included. Once this process is complete, the application will be considered with reference to the fund's mission and guidance (see Links, right). Updates will be posted here.

Blog start

The Community Trust's wind project team are currently compiling and categorising the comments received, both positive and negative, and will start this blog by publishing responses to them.