Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
possible that interpretative information can be provided on nearby tracks, or some contribution
made to upkeep of tracks, through the community fund. In line with the Scottish Outdoor
Access Code, access for pedestrians (including bird watchers), cyclists and horse-riders to the
application area will be possible, apart from in some areas of the application area during
construction (to be agreed with Clackmannanshire Council during the detailed design stage).
However, an alternative route skirting or close to the application area will be suggested as a
preferable route for these users.
15.6 Cumulative Effects
15.6.1 As discussed in Chapter 9 (Landscape and Visual), 11 (Ecology), 12 (Ornithology), and 7
(Traffic, Access and Transport), the existence of other wind farms around the application area
has the potential for effects to arise that when considered in isolation would be insignificant.
These have the potential to be both positive and negative form the point of view of
socioeconomic, tourism and land use factors.
15.6.2 Cumulative impacts on socioeconomic factors are likely to be positive. For example:
• economic and employment impacts in Clackmannanshire and surrounding Council
areas would be increased when two or more wind farms are constructed;
• accommodation and services in Clackmannanshire will be in greater demand during
construction; and
• companies with skills in wind farm construction, development and operational
maintenance will thrive and expand if Clackmannanshire and the surrounding area
is established as a hub of wind energy production in the UK and Europe.
15.6.3 Cumulative impacts on tourist factors are likely to be negligible or minor negative. These are
discussed in greater detail in Chapter 9 (Landscape and Visual) and Chapter 7 (Traffic, Access
and Transport). Potential impacts include the following:
• viewers at tourist facilities or along tourist routes may experience more than one
wind farm in their view, either leading to a sense of increased “industrialisation” of
the landscape (though the landscape is already reasonably industrial), or an
assumption that one farm is not out-of-context in the surrounding landscape. This
cumulative visual impact is considered in Chapter 9;
• potential for construction traffic of more than one wind farm to have a cumulative
impact on local roads, and tourists using these roads. However, there are no wind
farms in the surrounding area (within 10km) that are currently in the planning stage,
which could be in the construction stage during the proposed wind energy
development’s construction, as indicated in Chapter 9 (Landscape and Visual). The
nearest wind farm that has either been approved or in application is approximately
10km from the site at Burnfoot Hill (13 turbines). There are 11 additional wind farms
within 30km of the site. Discussion with the local highways department and the
relevant developers will take place if any of these will be constructed at the same
time as the proposed wind energy development, and will use the same transport
November 2010 Chapter 15 Page 25
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