Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Proposed mitigation measures identified in the ES are summarised in Table 4.4 below,
grouped according to the aspect of the development mitigation will address.
Table 4.4 Summary of Mitigation and Enhancement Measures
Chapter/Topic
Landscape and Visual
Ecology
Ornithology
Hydrology, Geology and
Hydrogeology
Cultural Heritage
Noise
Traffic and Transport
Proposed Mitigation
November 2010 Chapter 4 Page 17
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The layout and individual sitting of the turbines has been considered as
part of the design iteration to reduce landscape and visual effects.
Landscape and visual assessment has been a key issue during design of
the project, to ensure layout design relates well to landscape character
and achieves a sympathetic, balanced composition in views from the
surrounding areas. Consideration has been given to the appropriate
number of turbines on-site as well as to a number of alternative layout
options based on a range of turbine specifications.
Pre-construction surveys are proposed to enable refinements to be made
to turbines locations to avoid impacts on VER’s.
Translocation of Cornflower plants.
Control of on-site invasive species during site preparation/construction.
Construction best practice measures will be employed to minimise the
impacts on wildlife species identified within or potentially within the
surrounding areas (covering trenches, pits, excavations etc to prevent
animals entering these holes; provision of methods of escape; no
construction to take place at night time hours, reduced vehicles speeds
on-site; the presence of an Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW)).
The layout of the proposed wind energy development has incorporated
specific mitigation measures into the design, to account for the presence
of specific sensitive species within the site boundary.
Best practice measures on-site will include agreement with SNH and
RSPB of timing of certain works to avoid disturbance of specific bird
species at periods associated with breeding and of high concentrations.
Pre-construction surveys will also be undertaken in the breeding season.
Buffers zones set by SNH will be excluded from operations during the
breeding season.
Visual screening - It is suggested that the chain-link fence could be
replaced by an opaque structure such as slatted wooden fence or similar
(e.g. a natural ‘living willow’ fence) or in the long term through planting of
scrub vegetation to screen any low level visual stimuli from birds located
on the estuary.
Post consent bird monitoring will be carried out as stipulated by SNH
(Monitoring is not proposed as a mitigation measure but as a means of
assessing the actual impacts of the wind energy development on birds).
A number of mitigation measures will be employed incorporated into the
EMP for the site including general site pollution control measures, waste
management measures, drainage design, geotechnical design. More
specific details are provided within Chapter 13.
The site design considered direct and indirect impacts on cultural heritage
features and to the likely effect on below ground archaeology. Therefore
no further mitigation is proposed.
Standard construction measures would be implemented as part of the
construction management plan to minimise noise and vibration effects.
A transport management plan would be drawn up and agreed with
Clackmannanshire Council Roads Department. The following mitigation
measures are proposed:
• Traffic Effects: phasing of concrete and stone deliveries, traffic
management (signs warning other road users of turbine
movements) and parking restrictions. Where appropriate,
abnormal loads would be restricted to 09:30-15:00 Monday to
Friday to minimise disruption to the local road network;
• Noise and Vibration: timing of deliveries and abnormal loads and
traffic management;
• Dust and dirt: arrangements for road maintenance and cleaning,
wheel cleaning and dirt control arrangements at key stages of
construction; and
• Air pollution: All vehicles used would be adequately maintained
to ensure that exhaust emissions comply with relevant standards,
drivers would be instructed to switch off engines when vehicles
are stationary and the use of minibuses and car-sharing for
construction operatives would be encouraged.
In order to safeguard the interests of other users of the road network,
such as visitors to the area, walkers and cyclists, measures would be put
in place to ensure that these parties are aware of the presence of