Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
• Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981;
• Guidelines on survey methods and collision risk calculation for assessing the
impacts of wind farms on bird communities 2 ;
• Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment in the United Kingdom 3 ;
• UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) 4 ;
• Scottish Biodiversity List 5 ; and
• the Clackmannanshire Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) 6 .
Consultations
12.2.4 To ensure comprehensive coverage of ornithological issues, key conservation organisations
and statutory bodies were contacted during the consultation and scoping process. The
purposes of the consultation were: to establish requirements for new bird surveys and provide
consultees with the opportunity to offer guidance and advice on survey methodologies; to
identify potential development design modifications that might address ecological sensitivities;
and to identify preferred mitigation and enhancement. The consultation process also sought to
identify and obtain relevant existing bird data and determine any notable information gaps. A
summary of the key points raised by consultees is given in Table 12.1. Any ornithological
information provided during the consultation process (e.g. species records) is presented in the
Baseline Assessment (Section 12.3).
Table 12.1 Scoping and Consultation Responses
Organisation
Scottish Natural
Heritage (SNH)
Royal Society for
the Protection of
Birds (RSPB)
Response
20/01/2010 (letter) - Matthew Topsfield, Renewable Energy Casework Advisor, provided
information on SNH policy and guidance for onshore wind farms. It was noted that the proposed
development is located within an area identified as having high bird sensitivity. Nature
conservation sites that should be considered are the Firth of Forth SPA/SSSI/Ramsar site
(within 1km) and Gartmorn Dam SSSI (3.5km), both designated for bird interests. SNH is of the
view that the proposed development is likely to have a significant effect on the qualifying
interests of the Firth of Forth SPA and that an Appropriate Assessment is required.
06/05/2010 (email) - Matthew Topsfield responded to a draft report to inform an appropriate
assessment for the proposed wind energy development and the Firth of Forth SPA 7 . Matthew
Topsfield indicated that the bird survey work, assessment and appropriate assessment
provided appeared to be in accordance with published SNH guidance and that he was satisfied
that the approach was likely to provide an adequate assessment of the likely impacts of the
proposed wind energy development. Further that bird surveys undertaken for a period of one
full year only would be adequate. He advised that the in-combination/cumulative assessment
should consider other wind farms that are constructed, consented, or with an application yet to
be determined as well as other sources of mortality to the SPA population.
12/08/2010 (telephone) - Matthew Topsfield advised that the scope of the cumulative/incombination
assessment should be extended to cover wind farm proposals within 20km of the
Firth of Forth SPA. It is understood that this is based on the SPA connectivity distance identified
by SNH for pink-footed geese, which may travel up to 20km between roosting and feeding
areas.
30/09/2010 (email) - Matthew Topsfield provided some comments and supplementary
information on a list of wind developments within 20km of the Firth of Forth SPA. In particular
he advised on a number of sites where SNH would conclude no likely significant effect on the
Firth of Forth SPA and which would fall out of the in-combination/cumulative assessment.
03/11/201 (meeting with PfR and RPS) – Matthew Topsfield provided comments on a draft of
the ornithology chapter and report to inform an appropriate assessment (Appendix 12.2). He
advised that SNH was generally content with the survey effort, the assessments undertaken
and the conclusions.
04/09/2009 (letter) - Yvonne Boles (Central Scotland Conservation Officer) highlighted RSPB
concerns relating to the proximity of the proposed wind energy development to the Firth of
Forth SPA, Ramsar Sites and SSSI. RSPB Scotland is considering leasing land overlapping
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 3
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