Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
• “The location [of the proposed wind farm] in relation to tourist routes, including
designated walking and cycling routes;
• The relative scale of recreation and tourism in the area (i.e. local and national);
• Views from accommodation in the area;
• The potential positive tourism issues associated with the development;
• The views of tourist organisations;
• The visitor population whose recreational interests may be affected;
• Consider likely significant effects within an environmental impact assessment.”
Baseline Conditions
Population
15.3.4 The site of the proposed wind farm falls within the Breich Valley 2003 Census Area Statistic
(CAS) ward (see Figure 15.1) which lies within West Lothian local authority.
15.3.5 Mid-year population estimates for local authority areas in Scotland are produced each year
by the National Records of Scotland (NRS). In 2011, the total population of West Lothian
was estimated to be 172,990. This represents an increase of 0.5 % since the 2010 mid year
population estimate of 172,080. By comparison, the population of Scotland is estimated to
have increased by 0.6 % since the 2010 mid year population estimate of 5,222,100 (NRS,
2011)
15.3.6 By 2035, the population of West Lothian is projected to be 205,345, an increase of 19.3 %
compared to the population in 2010. By comparison, the population of Scotland is projected
to increase by 10.2 % between 2010 and 2035 (NRS, 2011). West Lothian’s projected
population change is different from most other local authorities and the Scottish average in
that most of this projected change is estimated to be through natural change – the birth rate
being higher than the mortality rate.
15.3.7 According to the 2001 census, Breich Valley has a total population of 5,273. This represents
3 % of the total population of West Lothian. This consisted of 2,601 males and 2,672
females. There are no reliable estimates for this ward area since the 2001 census figures.
However, based upon small area population estimates at datazone level from Scottish
Neighbourhood Statistics, it is estimated that the current population levels will have increased
within this ward at a similar rate to those within West Lothian.
15.3.8 According to the 2001 census, Breich Valley had a population density of 1.17 persons per
hectare. The figure for West Lothian is 0.27 persons per hectare and for Scotland is 1.54
persons per hectare.
15.3.9 Table 15.4 highlights the age structure of Breich Valley and places it in the context of West
Lothian and Scotland. The age structure of Breich Valley is similar to the Scottish population
as a whole. In Breich Valley, persons aged 65 and over made up 13 % of the total population
compared to 11 % for West Lothian and 16 % for Scotland. This reflects the fact that both
Breich Valley and West Lothian have a relatively young population, providing more young
people who are in the age bracket to have children.
March 2013 15-4 ES Chapter 15
Socio-Economics, Tourism, Land-Use and Recreation
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