Asda wins backling for wind turbine
STORE giant Asda has won the fight to build a wind turbine to power its distribution depot on the outskirts of Falkirk.
The company clinched planning permission at the second time of asking – and after pledging 100,000 to sponsor small environmental and community projects.
Falkirk Council's regulatory committee refused the application last December on the grounds that its height and scale would dominate the landscape.
But on Monday it voted unanimously to approve a the scheme.
Council officers said Asda had now "satisfactorily" answered concerns that there could be alternative sustainable energy options with less environmental impact and that the proposal would fail to provide
tangible benefits for the area.
Director of development services Rhona Geisler said Asda had since shown that smaller turbines, solar energy, bio mass and hydro power would not deliver enough electricity for its needs and would be "significantly" more expensive than the preferred single turbine.
The committee was told the 100,000, which will be paid into a Falkirk
Community Benefit Fund to provide yearly grants of between 5000 to 10,000 a year to fund local environmental and conservation initiatives, was a "goodwill" gesture.
Mrs Geisler added: "The wind turbine will still be huge, but it is considered that the proposal as resubmitted satisfactorily addresses some of the reasons for refusal of previous planning permission.
Power
''On balance it is considered the application can be supported."
The turbine will be 125 metres tall with three rotating blades and capable of producing 75 per cent of the power Asda needs to operate its depot at Bankside.
It is expected to operate 90 per cent of the time. The electricity will be sold to the national grid and bought back.
Asda claim the turbine idea got the backing of 95 per cent of householders asked their views on its plans to cut its carbon footprint.
Lisa Rooke, Asda's property communications manager, said: "We would like to thank them for their support and are clearly delighted with the decision.
''The wind turbine will play a significant part in our wider sustainability strategy and demonstrates our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment.
''As a leading local employer we are extremely excited about this decision and looking forward to working with the council to deliver this major renewable energy project."
The planning permission is subject to conditions. Asda will have to carry out a survey on the impact the turbine might have on television reception, pay for independent experts to assess the levels of noise and agree to shut it down completely every time nearby homes are threatened by 'shadow flicker' from the sun reflecting off the huge blades.
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Weather for Falkirk
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
