Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Title Date Prepared for Prepared by Method Key Points
maintained that it made
no difference.
Investigation
into the
potential
impact of wind
farms on
tourism in
Scotland
2002 VisitScotland NFO System
Three
Telephone and face-toface
interviews with
tourist boards, local
authorities, and tourism
companies, UK and
overseas case studies,
and visitor survey.
From visitor survey: 29%
stated wind farms
detracted from the
countryside experience.
18% stated wind farms
enhanced the experience.
15.4.36 Table 15.8 summarises three surveys of public attitudes to wind farm developments in
Scotland.
Table 15.8 Summary of Surveys on Public Opinion of Wind Farms
Title Date Prepared for Prepared by Method Key Points
Wind Farms
Telebus
(UK)
Aug
2006
British Wind
Energy
Association
GfK NOP
Public
attitudes to
the
environment
in Scotland
Public
attitudes to
wind farms
2005 Scottish
Executive
Social
Research
2003 Scottish
Executive
Social
Research
George Street
Executive
972 telephone
interviews of a
nationally
representative
sample
4000 adults
interviewed in
their homes
MORI 1,810
telephone
interviews of
people living
within 5km, 5-
10km & 10-
20km of a
wind farm
76% agreed with the statement, 'wind
farms are necessary so that we can
produce renewable energy to help us
meet current and future energy needs in
the UK'. This compared to 80% in Sep
2005, 77% in May 2005, 79% in January
2005 and 74% in August 2004. 27%
agreed with the statement, 'wind farms
are, or would be, ugly and a blot on the
landscape'. This compares to 27% in
2005, 28% in May 2005, 30% in January
2005, and 27% in August 2004.
59% would be happy to live next to a
wind farm. 85% felt wind farms should be
created, with only 2% saying they should
not.
0.3% mention wind farms as a negative
aspect of where they live. 20% feel that
wind farms have had a broadly positive
impact on the area, 7% feel a negative
impact, and 73% were ambivalent. 12%
say the landscape has been spoiled, 6%
say there were problems with additional
traffic and 4% say there was noise or
disturbance from traffic during
construction.
15.4.37 These surveys found that visitors were not significantly deterred from visiting an area because
of the presence of wind farms. In the more recent surveys, as wind farms have become
recognised as a beneficial way of reducing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions while producing
energy, opinion has become more favourable towards them. The proportion of visitors
regarding them as broadly positive exceeds those who regard them as broadly negative by
almost 3 to 1.
15.4.38 Surveys also indicate that many visitors would be interested in visiting a wind farm if
interpretation facilities were provided representing an opportunity to increase the numbers of
tourists including a visit to the area in their itineraries. For example, the Whitelee Wind Farm in
East Renfrewshire, has an exhibition and education centre attached, which opened in
September 2009. As well as offering a cafe, shop, and exhibits, it gives access to an 82km
network of paths for cyclists, ramblers and horse riders. The visitor centre is managed by
Glasgow Science Centre and offers activities for education and community groups 34 .
15.4.39 The opinions expressed are generally positive and suggests that the negative effect of wind
farms on tourism is unlikely to be significant.
November 2010 Chapter 15 Page 18
Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2010 ©