Wind farm site won't blackout local TVs

Jamie MacDonald • Published 25 Aug 2010 09:30 5 Comments

FEARS that 8000 homes could have their television signal affected by a wind farm development at Forthbank in Alloa have been eased by PfR.

Partnership for Renewables have been drawing up plans for four giant masts to be sited next to the River Forth which, it is estimated, could provide enough energy to power 5800 households.

A scoping report produced in December, obtained by Alloa man Bob Cuthbert, notes that thousands of local homes may receive reception problems due to the interference caused by the turbines.

The document notes that there may be straightforward solutions which involves improving receiving aerials and the use of cable or satellite broadcasting. The increase of digital television should also minimise disruption.

It is expected that before the masts will be operational the switchover from analogue to digital TV will be completed in the area.

Switch-off

The Black Hill transmitter for the STV region will stop transmitting an analogue signal during June 2011.

Craig Mullen, from Partnerships for Renewables, told the Advertiser, “The scoping report was published last year to outline the environmental and technical issues PfR would investigate to assess whether the Forthbank site was an appropriate location for wind turbines.”

Mr Mullen added that a similar report in Dundee noted the television reception in 20,000 homes in that area could have been affected. In the end work was only required on six properties that suffered from interference.

He continued, “When we start our investigations we look at the theoretical maximum of houses that could face TV interference and this forms the basis of future study work.

Experience

“However experience from operational wind turbines around the UK shows that, in reality, only a few properties, if any, are affected.

“In the unlikely event that any properties witness TV interference, as a result of the wind turbines, it will be easily resolvable and, under the terms of a planning permission, all costs and technical work will be the responsibility of the owner of the development and not the householder.

“For clarity, we are confident that TV interference will not be a problem for a wind energy development at Forthbank, that any issues will be resolvable and that there will be no financial implications for householders.”

It is anticipated that the turbines would save 11,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being produced per annum. Plans were shown to the public in Alloa during July and PfR hope to put their finished proposal before Clackmannanshire Council in the autumn. If all goes to plan the turbines could be operational in around two years.

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This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 25 Aug 10

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  alloaman
  Unregistered User
  Aug 25, 18:43
  Report comment

  this will obviously be going ahead no matter what residents in the area say or think,and as far as i know we wont even get the benefit of the electricity produced.
  
  pfr did say that money was available for organisations or clubs but who will decide that hopefully not the council as none of them will have these on there front door.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  redhopi
  28 posts
  Aug 30, 21:45
  Report comment

  Interesting that it is all speculation, nothing definite, but it is all taken as definite to get the go-ahead. As usual, it is all in the favour of the owners of the development, ordinary people are expeted to sit up and shut up whilst the development owners rake in a fortune at our expense.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  Flick
  Unregistered User
  Sep 1, 00:25
  Report comment

  When did this happen? I did not see anything advertised for public consultation and I've not heard anyone talking about it at all. And I thought these turbines worked more efficiently on the hills, not at sea level. So how does this save Clackmannanshire money exactly?
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  John sANDERSON
  Unregistered User
  Sep 13, 08:50
  Report comment

  This County is getting worse, the Council seem to agree on anything for short term gains regradless of any thoughts the voting public may have.We have seen Green belt areas destroyed in favour of housing projects consisting of housing the majority of local people will never be able to afford, and of course which brings its own problems putting a heavy burden in what is already heavily under stressed local services. Now we have more of these wind turbines which are a great idea but are an eyesore to anyone living within view of them, and the only people to benefit from them is the companys who put them up and take the monies for feeding the national grid..you wont see your bills coming down anytime soon infact never. Public consultation is no longer regarded neccessary by the powers that be within Clacks council when building projects are proposed regardless of what it is..So next time you vote look more closely at your ballot paper.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  Concerned Resident
  Unregistered User
  Sep 23, 21:07
  Report comment

  Apparently going for planning permission within the next six weeks...
  
  Various legal defences are being prepared, estimated 10% reduction in the value of houses facing directly on to these, particularily in the conservation village of Dunmore.
  
  Time to write to councillors, MP's, MSP's, MEP's and anyone else who will listen...
  
  Either that or ensure that the lessor spotted is spotted around the site and the RSPB have a better chance of getting this stopped than any of us mere mortals!
  
  Anyone with a concern / complaint, if you own your home and have legal cover with your mortgage / insurance it would appear they are more than willing to fund legal challenges.. funnily enough as it's the banks that will lose out when homes are devalued more... Although PfR allegedly are claiming that many people like the idea of a wind farm on their door step (ie view from our homes will be DOMINATED by one of these turbine) and it is likely to add value.. yet to find an expert to back this up!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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