Residents across Crieff, Methven, and Gilmerton are facing the prospect of significant traffic disruption for up to two years, as plans for a large-scale wind farm near Comrie advance. A local advocacy group, ‘Save Glen Lednock’, is sounding the alarm over the proposed development on the Invergeldie estate, warning that it could transform peaceful Perthshire routes into busy industrial arteries.
The group highlights concerns that the construction phase for the 19-turbine wind farm would necessitate an influx of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) through local communities daily. They project that Crieff, in particular, could see nearly 400 lorry movements on peak construction days, raising serious questions about road safety, noise pollution, and the overall quality of life for those living and working in the area.
The planned routes for these heavy vehicles are said to include key thoroughfares such as Highlandman Loan, Broich Road, Burrell Street, and Comrie Road, which runs alongside the popular MacRosty Park. These roads are integral to daily life in Crieff, used by local commuters, school children, and tourists exploring the scenic Strathearn area. The anticipated increase in traffic could lead to unprecedented congestion and pose risks to pedestrians and cyclists.
Save Glen Lednock has organised a public meeting in Crieff to rally community support and to ensure that the voices of affected residents are heard. They argue that while the developer, Low Carbon, has held consultation events in Comrie, these discussions have not adequately addressed the broader impact on neighbouring towns and villages along the transport corridor. Developer Challenges Traffic Projections
In response to the campaigners’ claims, Low Carbon has contested the figures presented by Save Glen Lednock. A spokesperson for the developer stated that the group has inadvertently inflated the projected traffic volumes by combining light goods vehicles, such as cars and vans, with the heavier lorry and HGV movements. Low Carbon clarifies that their own assessments indicate a peak daily volume of 252 HGV movements, not a consistent daily figure, and that traffic would be considerably lighter for much of the construction period.
Low Carbon maintains its commitment to minimising the impact on local communities while pursuing its objective to deliver “clean, cheap and secure energy for decades to come.” The firm emphasizes that careful planning and mitigation measures would be implemented to manage construction traffic as effectively as possible.
This ongoing debate underscores the complex balance between local concerns and national renewable energy targets. While the push for sustainable energy sources is vital, the immediate, tangible effects on local infrastructure and community well-being often become a flashpoint for discussion. Wider Renewable Energy Landscape in Perth and Kinross
The Glen Lednock project is not an isolated case; it forms part of a broader push for renewable energy developments within Perth and Kinross. The Invergeldie estate’s new owners, Oxygen Conservation, envision the wind farm as part of wider ‘rewilding’ initiatives, aiming to enhance biodiversity alongside energy production. Given its scale, the final decision on the Glen Lednock wind farm rests with the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit, bypassing local council approval.
Furthermore, local authorities are already grappling with other similar proposals. Perth and Kinross Council has formally voiced its opposition to a separate wind farm development, the Glentarken scheme on the neighbouring Drummond Estate, which is being spearheaded by SSE. Another significant renewables initiative planned for Fowlis Wester, also close to Crieff, has likewise generated considerable local opposition, highlighting a recurring pattern of community anxiety over the cumulative impact of such projects in the region.
The public meeting organised by Save Glen Lednock is scheduled for October 16 at 7pm, at the Strathearn Community Campus in Crieff. This gathering will provide a crucial platform for residents to delve deeper into the potential implications of the Comrie wind farm and to collectively strategize their response to a development that could reshape the daily lives of thousands in this picturesque part of Perthshire. It’s an opportunity for local people to engage directly with the details, share their concerns, and influence the future of their communities in the face of significant infrastructure changes.
The group highlights concerns that the construction phase for the 19-turbine wind farm would necessitate an influx of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) through local communities daily. They project that Crieff, in particular, could see nearly 400 lorry movements on peak construction days, raising serious questions about road safety, noise pollution, and the overall quality of life for those living and working in the area.
The planned routes for these heavy vehicles are said to include key thoroughfares such as Highlandman Loan, Broich Road, Burrell Street, and Comrie Road, which runs alongside the popular MacRosty Park. These roads are integral to daily life in Crieff, used by local commuters, school children, and tourists exploring the scenic Strathearn area. The anticipated increase in traffic could lead to unprecedented congestion and pose risks to pedestrians and cyclists.
Save Glen Lednock has organised a public meeting in Crieff to rally community support and to ensure that the voices of affected residents are heard. They argue that while the developer, Low Carbon, has held consultation events in Comrie, these discussions have not adequately addressed the broader impact on neighbouring towns and villages along the transport corridor. Developer Challenges Traffic Projections
In response to the campaigners’ claims, Low Carbon has contested the figures presented by Save Glen Lednock. A spokesperson for the developer stated that the group has inadvertently inflated the projected traffic volumes by combining light goods vehicles, such as cars and vans, with the heavier lorry and HGV movements. Low Carbon clarifies that their own assessments indicate a peak daily volume of 252 HGV movements, not a consistent daily figure, and that traffic would be considerably lighter for much of the construction period.
Low Carbon maintains its commitment to minimising the impact on local communities while pursuing its objective to deliver “clean, cheap and secure energy for decades to come.” The firm emphasizes that careful planning and mitigation measures would be implemented to manage construction traffic as effectively as possible.
This ongoing debate underscores the complex balance between local concerns and national renewable energy targets. While the push for sustainable energy sources is vital, the immediate, tangible effects on local infrastructure and community well-being often become a flashpoint for discussion. Wider Renewable Energy Landscape in Perth and Kinross
The Glen Lednock project is not an isolated case; it forms part of a broader push for renewable energy developments within Perth and Kinross. The Invergeldie estate’s new owners, Oxygen Conservation, envision the wind farm as part of wider ‘rewilding’ initiatives, aiming to enhance biodiversity alongside energy production. Given its scale, the final decision on the Glen Lednock wind farm rests with the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit, bypassing local council approval.
Furthermore, local authorities are already grappling with other similar proposals. Perth and Kinross Council has formally voiced its opposition to a separate wind farm development, the Glentarken scheme on the neighbouring Drummond Estate, which is being spearheaded by SSE. Another significant renewables initiative planned for Fowlis Wester, also close to Crieff, has likewise generated considerable local opposition, highlighting a recurring pattern of community anxiety over the cumulative impact of such projects in the region.
The public meeting organised by Save Glen Lednock is scheduled for October 16 at 7pm, at the Strathearn Community Campus in Crieff. This gathering will provide a crucial platform for residents to delve deeper into the potential implications of the Comrie wind farm and to collectively strategize their response to a development that could reshape the daily lives of thousands in this picturesque part of Perthshire. It’s an opportunity for local people to engage directly with the details, share their concerns, and influence the future of their communities in the face of significant infrastructure changes.