Community benefit ideas sought for potential wind farm

Low Carbon, which is hoping to develop a wind farm at High Brenfield, between Inverneill and Ardrishaig, and Foundation Scotland are inviting people to bring their ideas on what a community benefit from the wind farm could be used for.

Low Carbon has had a scoping application for High Brenfield with the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit since 2023.

The generating capacity proposed is in excess of 50 MW for the site – which puts it beyond Argyll and Bute Council’s planning process and into the hands of the Scottish Government.

Low Carbon hosted the second of two exhibitions last October in Ardrishaig and Lochgilphead to update the community on its proposals.

The wind farm plans have received a mixed response from the communities which will be most affected by its presence – Inverneill, Ardrishaig and Lochgilphead – with the most voiced concerns relating to how close it would be to residential properties, especially in Inverneill.

However, if it is granted permission, Low Carbon has committed to providing a fund at the level of £5,000 per MW of electricity produced for the lifetime of the wind farm, which is expected to be around 40 years.

It is this fund which will be discussed at the workshops on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, February 11-13.

Community benefit money can be used for a range of projects, both new and old, and the public are being invited to bring their ideas to these workshops.

What is also key is that these funds are provided within a specific, agreed geographical area – which is another aspect that will be explored at the workshops.

Among those who have been invited to contribute and join the discussions are youth organisations, charities, development groups, volunteer organisations, public bodies, sports organisations, community groups, schools, arts and culture organisations and churches.

The workshops will take place on Tuesday February 11 at the Snow Drop Centre (MS Centre) in Lochgilphead at 1.30pm; Tuesday February 11 at Lochgilphead Free Church Hall at 7pm; Wednesday February 12 at the Egg Shed in Ardrishaig at 12.30pm, 3.30pm and 7pm; Thursday February 13 at Argyll Backpackers Hostel, Inverneill, 1.3pm and 7pm.