jan-11 - Lochwinnoch Online

Save Your Regional Park
Excellent News for Clyde
Muirshiel and the
Renfrewshire Core paths
The Appeal against the refusal by
Renfrewshire Council for an
Anaerobic Digester in the policies
of Glenlora House, Corsefield Rd,
Lochwinnoch and in Clyde
Muirshiel Regional Park, has been
REFUSED by the Reporter
appointed by Scottish Ministers.
An announcement was issued by
the Scottish Government’s
Directorate for Planning and the
Environmental Appeals (DPEA) on
2nd December 2010 and we
congratulate the Reporter on a
wise decision.
SYRP and a large number of
supporters had objected to
Renfrewshire Council and had
made submissions to the DPEA in
connection with the applicant's
appeal against Renfrewshire
Council's refusal of the application.
The Reporter made two site visits
and concluded that Corsefield Rd,
as a narrow, single track Core path
was not suitable for increased
industrial traffic and neither were
the access roads off the A760
(Lochwinnoch to Kilbirnie) which
were also Core Paths extensively
used for recreational exercise by
many users.
As the many users of Corsefield
road are only too aware, it is
extensively used for informal
exercise and users will be delighted
that the Reporter came to the right
conclusion.
Other concerns were the potential
adverse impact on neighbours
from noise, dust, use of water,
waste water treatment and traffic;
the stated uses of the heat
produced by the plant for what
appeared to be non-existent
purposes and the lack of
identifiable end users for the
digestate.
Wings Law Wind (originally called
Ladymoor) Turbine Power Station
near Kilbirnie
As readers will recall, we have
been campaigning vigorously
against this development for over
five years! Initially it was
proposed that their would be 125
x 410 ft / 125 m high turbines
straddling the Renfrewshire /
North Ayrshire border on the
hills above and all along the hills
between Lochwinnoch and
Kilbirnie.
The proposal was finally reduced
to 24 turbines of the same
dimensions and the planning
application submitted to North
Ayrshire Council was refused.
Wind Hydrogen Energy then
lodged an appeal with the
Scottish Government against the
North Ayrshire decision and once
again SYRP and the Scottish
Campaign for National Parks
formed a joint team which was
appointed as a 'Relevant Party' to
appear at and partake in the
Public Local Inquiry which was
due to commence in Radio City,
Kilbirnie on 13th January 2011.
A massive number of hours work
had been put into preparing our
Precognitions and Productions
which were finally completed
after midnight on the 14th Dec
2010. In the afternoon of the
same day, we received the very
welcome news that Wind
Hydrogen had withdrawn their
appeal and therefore the Inquiry
will not now go forward!
Readers will recall that for the
last 5 years one of our many
major concerns was the likely
detrimental effect of this
windfarm on the primary radar
systems at Glasgow and
Prestwick airports. This was
confirmed earlier this year with
the issue of a Scottish
Government report which clearly
stated that Wings Law windfarm
was 'unmitigateable' as far as
airport radar safety was
concerned. WHL decided they
knew better and insisted in going
forward with their appeal - that
is, till 14th Dec when they finally
got the message and withdrew
the appeal. December has been a
good month for decisions in
favour of our campaign.
13
Fairtrade Activities
The Lochwinnoch Campaign
group participated in the Scottish
Fair trade Forum national
campaign day which was held in
Paisley on November 13. It
marked the beginning of its
efforts to make Scotland a
Fairtrade nation next year. Along
with other groups from across
Scotland,we discussed how we
could help this to happen by
continuing to actively support
small producers and farmers of
Fairtrade products in poorer
countries and help them make a
living for themselves.
In the run up to Christmas, we
held a Fairtrade stall at the
Lochwinnoch Farmer’s Market in
the Castle Semple Centre selling
a wide range of goods supplied
by Cucina Minucci which also
sold a range of Fairtrade
hampers over the festive period.
Finally, plans for Fairtrade
Fortnight 2011 are underway. For
two weeks, from February 28 –
March 13 we want people to get
loud and proud about Fairtrade
by asking everyone to ‘Show off
your label’: – tell the world about
your cake made extra special by
using Fairtrade sugar and spice,
your most tempting bottle of
wine, your comfiest pants.
We want to load the FAIRTRADE
Mark with meaning, telling them
the tangible difference Fairtrade
makes to producers. Various
local events are planned
including coffee and wine
tastings as well as a poster
competition involving the pupils
at Lochwinoch Primary school.
Look out for further details in the
next Chatterbox and notices
around the village.