Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
7 Traffic and Transport
7.1 Introduction and Overview
7.1.1 This chapter considers the likely significant effects of the proposed wind farm on the strategic
and local transport network.
7.1.2 The chapter begins by describing the assessment methodology used to determine the
impacts of the proposed wind farm. This is followed by a description of baseline traffic
conditions which currently exist within the vicinity of the proposed wind farm and
surroundings. Potential traffic related effects and their significance during the construction,
operation and decommissioning phases of the project are then discussed followed by the
mitigation measures required to prevent, reduce or offset any significant adverse effects
identified. The chapter finally predicts the likely significant residual effects that remain
assuming the mitigation measures have been implemented.
7.1.3 The location of the proposed wind farm and the surrounding road network is shown on Figure
1.1. All construction traffic associated with the proposed wind farm would route to the site
from the A70 from the north and south. It is expected that the wind turbine components
would travel to the proposed wind farm from Grangemouth.
7.1.4 The route from Grangemouth would route onto the M9 at Junction 6 from the A904 to
Junction 1, turning onto the westbound M8. From Junction 4 of the M8, the abnormal loads
would route onto the A801 and A706 southbound through Whitburn and Forth and onto the
eastbound A721 and A70. At Carnwath, the abnormal loads would route north along the A70
to the site access. This route is shown on Figure 7.1.
7.1.5 Access to the site would be taken from the north-western side of the A70 and new routes to
each turbine location would be created (see Chapter 4: Description of the Proposed
Development). During operation, the turbines would only require occasional access for
maintenance. The layout design for the main junction from the A70 into the site is attached
at Appendix 7.1.
7.2 Methodology
Relevant Guidance
7.2.1 As a matter of best practice, this assessment has been undertaken based on current relevant
guidance for assessing the environmental effects of traffic. This is set out within The Institute
of Environmental Assessment (IEA) (now the IEMA) publication ‘Guidance Note Number 1:
Guidelines on the Environmental Assessment of Road Traffic’, 1993.
Methodology
7.2.2 The IEMA Guidelines recommend two rules to be considered when assessing the impact of
development traffic on a road link:
• Rule 1: Include highway (road) links where traffic flows will increase by more than
30 % (or the number of heavy goods vehicles will increase by more than 30 %); and
March 2013 7-1 ES Chapter 7
Traffic and Transport
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