NEW Wind Farm Plan For Inverclyde Countryside

A SECOND wind farm in the countryside near Inverclyde is being proposed.

Gryffe Wind Farm at High Mathernock Farm and Priestside Farm, Auchentiber Road, near upper Port Glasgow would have seven turbines, in addition to three turbines already operating there.

The turbine hub heights would vary — two would be nearly 75 metres (246 feet) high, four would be 60 metres (197 feet) high and one 50 metres (164 feet) high.

The blade tips would be between 76.5 metres (251 feet) and almost 100 metres (328 feet) high. The existing turbines are 67 metres (219 feet) high at the blade tip.

The proposals by Loganwood Wind would also require a 950-metre access track along with a sub-station, plus a construction area of 35 by 34 metres at the base of each turbine.

The applicant has revealed details of the plan in a document submitted to Inverclyde Council as part of procedures to assess the environmental impact of the development.

The document states that the wind farm would lie outside any international or national designations for ecology, history or landscape.

Several farm houses would be within a kilometre of turbine locations — Auchentiber Farm, High Mathernock Farm, High Auchenleck Farm, Cunston Cottage and Priestside Farm.

The document continues: “The proposed Gryffe Wind Farm has been designed to complement the three operational wind turbines that already occupy part of the site.

“The aim is to maintain a consistent image of a single wind farm, covering the whole site.”

No planning application has been submitted yet.

Permission has previously been given for an eight-turbine wind farm in the hills above Greenock on parts of Burnhead, Lurg and Maukinhill Moors and Corlic Hill, with construction expected to start this summer.

Its turbines will be 213 feet (65 metres) high at the hub level with a blade-tip height of up to 110 metres (330 feet).