Proposal to Erect a 500kW Wind Turbine on Blackcastle Hill
Dunbar Community Energy Company lodged a planning application for a 500kW wind turbine on Blackcastle Hill on November 2nd 2012. The 56m high turbine would be wholly community owned with all profits being disbursed through a community investment fund for the Dunbar and East Linton Ward. It is estimated that around £4 million pounds will be available for local projects over the 20 year life of the turbine.
Dunbar Community Energy Company is a trading subsidiary of the charity Sustaining Dunbar and is run by a board of volunteers. They have developed a proposed procedure for disbursing the profits by means of a ‘Project Evaluation Group’ Further information is available on the website: www.dunbarcommunityenergy.org.uk
Full details of the planning application can be found at www.eastlothian.gov.uk planning ref no. 12/00874/P, and an exhibition will be placed in Innerwick Village Hall for a two week period from 4th to 18th February 2013 so that the community have a chance to have a look at the proposal in detail.
East Lammermuir Community Council encourages residents to look closely at this proposal. The location of the turbine will have most impact on those in the Innerwick area.
If you have any views on the Blackcastle Hill proposal, we would be grateful if you would advise us (confidentially) by Monday 18th February 2013 by emailing us at ELCC.Comms@gmail.com
Blackcastle Hill Wind Turbine Proposal Survey
East Lammermuir Community Councillors undertook a postal questionnaire which was delivered to 350 homes in the Spott/Innerwick/Oldhamstocks area, seeking their views on the above planning application. To view the questionnaire, click on the ‘Blackcastle Hill Wind Turbine Proposal survey’ link below. A total of 115 questionnaires were returned, a 33% response rate and the number of adults responding was 215.
Blackcastle Hill Wind Turbine Proposal survey
| Opinion | Number of individual responses | Percentage |
| Strongly oppose |
104 |
48 |
| Tend to oppose |
14 |
7 |
| Neither support nor oppose |
28 |
13 |
| Tend to support |
30 |
14 |
| Strongly support |
39 |
18 |
| Total |
215 |
100 |
ELCC agreed to adopt the position painted in these figures – that is, a clear majority of respondents oppose this planning application and would therefore write to ELC Planning Department with their note of objection highlighting the visual, landscape, noise impact and the application being outwith the ELC planning guidelines, by 28 February, 2013.
To view the objection letter forwarded to ELC Planning click on the link below:
ELCC Blackcastle Hill objection
Blackcastle Update May 2013
East Lothian Council Officers have recommended that the application for the turbine on Blackcastle Hill be refused. However, the decision has been called in and will now be considered by the Planning Committee at the Town House in Haddington on Tuesday 7th May 2013. ELCC will be making a further statement of objection at this meeting.
Blackcastle Update 7th May 2013
The Planning Committee upheld East Lothian Council Officers recommendation and unanimously rejected the application for the Turbine at Blackcastle Hill.
Blackcastle Update 30th August 2013
Dunbar Community Energy Company have lodged an appeal to the Scottish Government to overturn the decision made by ELC on 7th May. East Lammermuir Community Council submitted a letter to the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals reiterating it’s strong objection and asking that the appeal be dismissed.
Blackcastle Update 4th November 2013
The appeal made by Dunbar Community Energy Company to the Scottish Government has been dismissed by the Reporter and the planning permission REFUSED.
The Reporter’s decision is final, but Dunbar Community Energy Company will have the right to appeal to the Court of Session. However, an appeal to the Court of Session can only be made on a point of law.