Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
15.4.19 Given the extent of commercial forestry of similar age and structure locally, this receptor is
considered to be generally tolerant to this loss and the sensitivity of this receptor is therefore
considered to be low.
15.4.20 Much of the wind blow activity at Camilty has been within sites associated with the proposed
turbine layout. When analysed with areas felled within the past five years, predicted fellings
due to the proposed wind farm will be small within the term of the construction and outside
that already targeted.
15.4.21 The extension of the forest felling operations to include the turbine infrastructure can be
achieved by using the available work force, or transient forestry contractors that would
normally resource such operations. In the short term, much of the crop generated from the
construction of the wind farm will be sold and revenues generated. However, for the
purposes of this assessment it has been assumed that, were the wind farm not to be built and
operated, the extent of felling required for the purposes of the wind farm would eventually be
felled under normal operations. Assuming the forestry operations continued over the lifetime
of the wind farm it would not, therefore, be anticipated that there would be any significant net
gain or loss with respect to timber sales resulting from the construction phase, and so the
magnitude of change is considered negligible. Sections of felled and replanted trees will
continue to mature during the lifetime of the forest and the operations required to successfully
establishing trees will be carried out without interruption.
15.4.22 Construction of the proposed wind farm will therefore result in a small increase in forestry
operational activity outside that already planned in the current FDP and is of low impact and
hence minimal significance. The effect of the proposed development on site operations is,
therefore, considered not significant.
15.4.23 Compensatory planting is planned to ensure that the total forestry land is not lost. This
additional planting will be directed by the Forestry Commission Scotland and will be located
on part of their current estate. This work will replace the lost area that would be reestablished
as forest and therefore will balance the overall economic impacts regarding
forestry operations.
15.4.24 The operational wind farm will result in the loss of approximately 21.03 ha of land from
continued production over its 25 years (Appendix 4.1). This loss will be compensated for and
additional areas of land will be used for forestry purposes. Thus the effect on the local
economy from the wind farm on Camilty Forest is likely to be positive. Although the
significance locally is currently not clear and will be realised from income received by the
FCS provided from the wind farm itself. In addition, in the long term, the wind farm operation
will make ongoing contributions to the Scottish economy through payment of business rates.
Tourism and Recreation
15.4.25 The actual effects of the operational phase of the proposed wind farm on tourist and
recreational users is difficult to assess given that people’s perception of the landscape and
visual effects of wind farms are entirely subjective. For example, even at locations where the
proposed wind turbines may be a significant feature in the landscape, for some tourists or
recreational users this may increase their enjoyment and their future propensity to revisit,
whilst for others the presence of turbines may decrease their enjoyment and propensity to
revisit. Before assessing the effects of the proposed wind farm on tourism and recreation, a
literature review of surveys relating to the effects of wind farms on these matters is discussed
below.
March 2013 15-20 ES Chapter 15
Socio-Economics, Tourism, Land-Use and Recreation
Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2013 ©