Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
15 Socioeconomics, Tourism and Land Use
15.1 Introduction
15.1.1 This chapter provides an assessment of the effects of the proposed wind energy development
on socio-economic activity, tourism and recreation and land use during the construction,
operation and de-commissioning phases of the development.
15.1.2 The proposed wind energy development has the potential to impact on the socioeconomic
structure of Clackmannanshire (employment, economics etc), tourist attractions in the vicinity
of the site, any nearby recreational areas, such as public rights of way, footpaths and cycle
routes (as well as the right of the public to access the site under the Land Reform (Scotland)
Act 2003 (Scottish Outdoor Access Code)), and the existing land use of the area.
15.1.3 This assessment follows the four stage systematic approach for technical assessments
outlined in Chapter 2 (EIA Process):
• description of baseline conditions - using scoping and further consultation
responses, detailed desk studies and information from a site visit;
• identification and assessment of potential environmental effect - through
consultation with relevant statutory and non-statutory bodies and evaluation of
relevant and updated legislation and guidance relevant to the development
(including evaluation of the significance of the effect);
• identification of mitigation measures;
• assessment of residual effects; and
• proposed monitoring – if necessary.
15.1.4 For clarity of presentation, these four stages are dealt with separately for each of the three
topics in this assessment: socio-economic impacts, tourism impacts and land use impacts.
Detailed analysis of the impacts on landscape and visual aspects (Chapter 9), cultural heritage
(Chapter 10), noise (Chapter 8) and traffic (Chapter 7) is contained within other chapters and is
therefore not covered here.
15.2 Methodology
15.2.1 The methodologies and information used for each assessment are provided in the relevant
sections below.
15.2.2 In general, methodologies for the assessments involved:
• a review of relevant legislation and guidance;
November 2010 Chapter 15 Page 1
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