Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Habitats
11.4.41 There are not anticipated to be any adverse impacts on habitats during operation of the wind
energy development. If anything, some small parts of the habitats temporarily lost or disturbed
during the construction phase (e.g. semi-improved neutral grassland) may be expected to
improve as plants from the adjacent, unaffected areas naturally recolonise.
Species
Bats
11.4.42 Common and soprano pipistrelle accounted for the vast majority of the calls recorded on-site
(at least 92%). These species are known to fly in excess of 40m in height and therefore may
be at risk of mortality from turbines; European studies have recorded widely varying levels of
pipistrelle mortality, though turbines in open landscapes present significantly lower risk
(calculated rates range from 0.18 to 5 bats/turbine/year in open sites 18 ). Soprano pipistrelles
typically forage over water bodies and commute along woodland edges and similar linear
features. Common pipistrelles appear to forage more widely, with less reliance on aquatic
habitats. The low levels of bat activity observed in the open habitats of this site suggest that
mortality would be at the lower end of the scale.
11.4.43 Myotis bats (including Daubenton’s) are considered to be at low risk from wind turbine collision,
while common and soprano pipistrelle have been placed in the medium risk category 4 .
However, the populations of all three species identified as present on-site are considered to be
at low risk of wind turbine mortality. Furthermore, the more sheltered habitats along the Pond
Wood to the northeast of the site and the ponds just outside the site (to the northeast) are
more likely to provide better feeding resources (as well as roosting opportunities in the
woodland) then the open land where the turbines are to be sited.
11.4.44 The overall predicted effect magnitude is low and the resulting significance of effect minor.
Otters
11.4.45 It is anticipated that otters will quickly habituate to the presence of the wind turbines at the
proposed wind energy development. Therefore, visual and auditory disturbance generated
through the operation of the wind turbines is expected to be negligible. Furthermore,
disturbance created during routine maintenance works (e.g. general human activity and
operation of handheld power tools) is expected to be infrequent, of low intensity and conducted
during daylight hours when otters are not active. As such, the effect of disturbance on otters is
predicted to be of negligible significance.
11.4.46 If, as is predicted, otters do cross the access track when commuting between the Forth Estuary
and the Black Devon lagoons, it is expected that they will continue to do so during the
operation of the proposed wind energy development. However, given the species
crepuscular/nocturnal behaviour it is extremely unlikely that otters would occur on-site during
daylight, working hours. Therefore the likelihood of an otter being run over and killed or injured
November 2010 Chapter 11 Page 33
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