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Press and Journal: 09:00 - 23 April 2005 They have been told it is inappropriate to refuse consent for wind measuring equipment just because they believe it will be a precursor to the establishment of windfarms. The ruling has come from the executive's planning inquiry unit following an appeal against the rejection by Highland Council's Lochaber area planning committee of two applications by North British Windpower Ltd. Overturning the council's decisions, a unit reporter said: "It was inappropriate to refuse permission on the basis of what may conceivably arise as a consequence of the proposal." The company had sought consent last September for the temporary siting of anemometer masts at Druim Fada, Corpach and Caonich, at Achnacarry. It already has a mast on the north shore of Loch Arkaig, which, it said, had resulted in no adverse comment. It wanted to collect data to establish whether both locations were "worthy of pursual as possible windfarms". But councillors and opponents argued that the data measuring equipment would be the precursor to moves to establish windfarms. Company officials retorted that the collation of data did not necessarily mean an application for a windfarm would follow. Councillors had also been urged by former area planning manager Kenneth Johnston to disregard opponents' claims. "It would be inappropriate to prejudge the fact that the information obtained may at sometime in the future be used to support an application for the development of a windfarm. "Such a proposal would be the subject of a separate planning application and would require to be considered on its own merits and be accompanied by an environmental assessment." Mr Johnston added: "It is not inconceivable that the information gathered may render the two sites unsuitable for the development of a windfarm." He had recommended approval of the two applications, but with a "firm qualification" that no commitment was given in terms of any future wind power developments or proposals. Despite this, councillors decided to back six residents who lodged objections, voting six-two to reject North British's applications. Residents had argued that the 5in diameter steel poles carrying instruments would adversely affect the wider landscape setting, impacting on tourism, nature conservation and the area's rare birds and wildlife. But the reporter has now told the council that the visual impact would be minimal and he has granted temporary consent for two years. It was the second time in less than two months that councillors had refused the green light for the installation of wind monitoring equipment. Four out of five applications by Edinburgh-based Wind Energy Ltd for the erection of anemometers were turned down in June after more than 200 objections were lodged. The company has been linked to a suggested 500-turbine windfarm, which would be Europe's biggest, on the Ardnamurchan and Morvern peninsulas and in the north of Mull. It is now thought that the company will make further application for the anemometer sites.
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