Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
15.4.19 Other nearby visitor attractions and places of interest include:
• Ochil Hills including Dumyat Visitor Centre – a car park and start of walk in the Ochil
Hills (approximately 9km north of the application area by road, at Menstrie);
• Wallace Monument : approximately 12km by road north west of the application area;
• Logie Old Kirk: approximately 15km by road north west from the application area,
near Stirling University; and
• Sherrifmuir Battleground –an important location in the 18 th Century Jacobite
uprisings; approximately 20km by road north west of the application area, east of
Dunblane.
15.4.20 Visits were more highly seasonal than Scotland as a whole in 2008, with approximately 45% of
visits over the year occurring in the 3 month period between July and September, compared to
approximately 38% occurring in the same months in Scotland 29 .
15.4.21 Although information on the performance of Clackmannanshire’s visitor attractions over time is
not available, data from barometer sites indicates that the Forth Valley Local Enterprise area is
performing less well than other areas 30 . Reasons given for poor performance in summer 2009
included wet weather, fuel costs, roadworks, reduced opening hours and local competition.
Promotion of the area by the Councils and VisitScotland centre on its history, association with
Scottish Independence, industrial past, and, mainly in the north of the area, its scenery and
countryside, through promotion of country parks and golf courses. Arts and leisure, and its
good location for exploring other areas of Scotland are also highlighted.
15.4.22 The application area itself is not primarily a tourist attraction, being located on a disused landfill
on the outskirts of Alloa. The application area is immediately south of a sewage works and
numerous industrial buildings. Therefore, an industrial landscape is already present in the
area, and although turbines will be visible from a greater distance than the existing
infrastructure, the proposed wind energy development will not be incongruous with the
industrial nature of the surrounding area. However, the proposed wind energy development is
close to attractions such as the Dunmore Pineapple (approximately 2km south of the
application area, directly), Clackmannan Tower 1km to the north, and Alloa Tower
approximately 700m to the north of the application area in Alloa. Old Tulliallan Castle near
Kincardine in Fife is approximately 3km south east of the application area, and Gartmorn Dam
3km to the north east. In 2008, Alloa Tower had approximately 6500 visits 31 - Visitor numbers
for the other local attractions have not been published by the Councils or Visit Scotland.
Tourist Accommodation
15.4.23 Tourist Accommodation is largely centred around the towns in the area, with guest houses and
hotels in Clackmannan, Alloa, Airth and Dunmore in Falkirk. The Dunmore Pineapple is also
available as holiday accommodation, rented by the Landmark Trust. No campsites within 3km
of the application area have been identified.
15.4.24 The peak demand for tourist accommodation typically occurs between July and August when
occupancy rates in Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond and the Forth Valley. VisitScotland area can
November 2010 Chapter 15 Page 14
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