9th May 2006
Auchtermuchty Community Association opposes wind energy factory.

At the Annual General Meeting of the Auchtermuchty Community Association on Monday night a motion from the floor opposing the proposed wind turbine development on the outskirts of Auchtermuchty was carried by an overwhelming majority with only one vote against.

Association Chairman Andy Heer said, “I have been chairman for several years and this is the first time that I can remember anyone raising a formal motion at the AGM. Perhaps this demonstrates the strength of feeling over the issue.”

“At previous meetings we had discussed the possibility of a town-wide referendum or a public meeting but as the proposer of the motion pointed out, this was the AGM and, in the view of those present, the ideal time to formulate policy.”

The motion was that, ‘The Auchtermuchty Community Association is opposed to the proposal by Energie Kontor to build a wind farm adjacent to Auchtermuchty and its common and at the appropriate time will write to Fife Council objecting to any such planning application.’

“In the vote only one person voted against the motion. Strangely enough I understand that the gentleman who voted against is in fact a member of the anti-windfarm group!”

28th February 2006
Windfarm Developer May Look Elsewhere in Face of local objections.

Local people representing the communities to be affected by a proposed windfarm in Auchtermuchty viewed an exhibition today (Tuesday 28th Feb 2006).

Locals were told by Europe's leading wind energy developers that whilst they propose to impose a 320 foot high windfarm towering over the village and the Howe, they had no information available on many critical areas, including:

• Geological information.
• Hydrological information.
• Which properties are being sound surveyed?
• Critically, no noise (low-frequency) data was made available for local folk to examine how homes close to such a development could be badly affected by noise.

Auchtermuchty Landscape and Environment Group (www.auchtermuchtyLE.org) has been formed to combat this menace.
 
Acting Chairman, Graeme Whyte, a former Community Councillor in the area, said that it was a disgrace that such a development was being proposed so close to the town. The developer refused to make important geological and other scientific information available to allow locals to make up their minds on this development ahead of any planning application. All the public at the meeting that I spoke to were against this development. One local described it as "Rape"!
 
A Representative of this international wind energy developer agreed that if enough objections were raised by locals, then they would consider dropping the Auchtermuchty site and look elsewhere.
 
Graeme encourages everyone to fight this atrocious scheme and protect the historical and special nature of this area by doing whatever they can to help. Contact us on or tel 07768 911679.

21st February 2006
Auchtermuchty Landscape and Environment Group launched.

On Tuesday 21st February a well-attended public meeting was held in the Victoria Hall, Auchtermuchty.

The meeting was chaired by well-known local businessman and ex-Community Councillor Graeme Whyte who now lives in Dunfermline.

Mr Whyte explained that he was there in response to a request from local people who were concerned about the proposed windfarm development and who thought that a group should be set up to oppose it.

A show of hands proved that the meeting was unanimous in its desire to establish the campaigning group, to be called the Auchtermuchty Landscape and Environment Group.

A list was made of those who wished to serve on the committee and a steering group has now been set up to form the committee and appoint office bearers.

Those who wish to register their objection to the windfarm development or to volunteer their help to the group can do so through the new website at www.auchtermuchtyLE.org

Auchtermuchty Community Association chairman, Andy Heer, commented,

“I went along to see how the meeting would turn out and it’s obvious how passionate people are in their opposition to this development.

I have appealed for local people to let me know their feelings whether for or against the windfarm.

So far I have only had three people tell me that they are in favour whereas I am stopped literally every day in the street by people asking what is being done to prevent it.”