Scottish developer joins turbine row

18 February 2012

The developer of a proposed golf course near St Andrews has joined Donald Trump’s attack on wind farms in Scotland.

Ewan McKay, who is behind the proposed St Andrews International development at Feddinch, to the south of the town, has written to Fife Council objecting to the plan to build six 2MW wind turbines at a site near Kenly. The project, devised by St Andrews University to provide sustainable electricity for its facilities, is currently under consideration by the council.

“The clubhouse plans at Feddinch incorporate some 41 luxurious suites, many of which will have a full view of the Kenly wind turbines,” said McKay, admitting to “deep concern” this would reduce membership numbers. But, he said, his main objection was that “People throughout the world will stare in disbelief when the Open Championship returns to St Andrews and the cameras take into picture the wind turbines”.

McKay’s letter is one of more than 500 comments on the planning application received by the council, the majority of which are objections. Scottish Natural Heritage is also an objector, saying that the turbines would affect the “nationally important medieval skyline of St Andrews.”

The St Andrews International course, itself the subject of a long-running and complex planning application, will be designed by Tom Weiskopf’s firm. The course itself has been granted planning consent, but the clubhouse and associated buildings are still mired in the system, with a decision not expected before June.