Plans for 120m weather mast given go-ahead despite over 100 objections

Councillors in Argyll and Bute have approved plans for a 120-meter weather mast on the Cowal Peninsula despite more than 100 objections.

GB Windfarm Ltd wants to install the mast at a site 2.1km northwest of Dunoon, and 1.5km southwest of Sandbank, to gather data on the viability of a possible wind farm.

Councillor William Sinclair (Liberal Democrat, Cowal) was among 107 parties who objected to the plans. Two expressions of support have also been received.

The application will go before the council’s planning, protective services and licensing committee at its meeting on Wednesday, August 20.

Councillor Sinclair is not on the committee.

A council planning officer said: “The proposal is for the erection of a 120m meteorological mast which will be sited for a temporary period of up to four years to gather data in relation to the viability or not of a potential wind farm.

“One hundred and thirty people have objected to the siting of the mast, raising concerns. Objectors, on the whole, have used a ‘form letter/template’ as produced by a group known as ‘Save Cowal’s Hills’.

“The matters raised relate to temporary consents, visual impact, lighting of masts, impact on residents, construction of access road, peat, and inaccurate information.

“Having assessed the development with due regard to the relevant material considerations, no issues have been identified that cannot be resolved by relevant planning conditions. There is, therefore, nothing to restrict a positive recommendation.

“Consequently, it is recommended that Planning Permission is granted subject to the recommended condition(s) and reasons appended to this report.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the granting of temporary permission for the erection of this wind monitoring mast does not in any manner imply that the site is considered suitable for a wind farm.”

The report also recommends against holding a pre-determination hearing, adding: “Although the application has attracted 107 letters of objection, it is considered that members have sufficient information within the report and supporting documentation on public access to enable them to determine this application and properly evaluate the application against the statutory planning framework having regard to any other material planning considerations.

“It is therefore not considered by officers that a pre-determination Hearing would add value to the determination process.”