Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
route in part. Therefore no cumulative traffic impacts along the same routes are
predicted;
• leisure factors (walking/cycling/golfing etc) will mainly be impacted by changes on
views as mentioned in Chapter 9. These will be negligible to minor impacts; and
• fishery interests are unlikely to be affected by cumulative effects from several wind
farms in a catchment, as site management measures at each will prevent increased
loads of sediment or contaminants.
15.6.4 Cumulative impacts on land use factors are discussed in Chapters 11 and 12 (Ecology, and
Ornithology), and are likely to be generally positive, assuming habitat management at
individual sites is well considered. Impacts include the following:
• several wind farms in the area could cause loss of substantial areas of the same
habitat/land use type across the area. This could impact upon land use, ecological
habitats and views. However, this is assessed as only a minor impact given the
ecological paucity of rough grassland – the primary habitat type lost at the proposed
wind energy development;
• habitat management at several wind farms will have a positive effect on the ecology
of the wider area, as ecologically poor areas are managed for their rarer species and
more diverse habitats; and
• cumulative impacts on birds are likely to be negligible assuming consideration has
been given to individual wind energy development design and avoiding disturbance
and displacement of territories.
15.6.5 In general, assuming that potentially adverse impacts are mitigated against individual wind
farm sites (such as impacts on views, ecology, traffic and other construction impacts),
cumulative impacts with the application area will generally be negligible (from the point of view
of tourism) or positive, given the increase in positive habitat management and economic
benefits arising from several wind energy developments in the region.
15.7 Summary of Effects
15.7.1 Table 15.9 below summarises the predicted socioeconomic, tourism and land use effects of
the proposed wind energy development during the various phases of construction, operation
and de-commissioning.
November 2010 Chapter 15 Page 26
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