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4 September, 2010
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Published: 03 April, 2009
WIND turbine blades bound for a development in Caithness made their way through Wick this week – by an unusual route. The fibreglass blades, which were heading to the Achairn wind farm near Bilbster, were part of two shipments which arrived at Wick harbour last month.
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Three lorries, each carrying one blade, first transported their loads from the harbour on Sunday, repeating the operation on Wednesday. The other parts are due to be moved today (Friday). Materials to build the three turbines arrived from Denmark in two consignments at Wick harbour on March 15 and 16. Other parts for the wind farm came from Germany. The vehicles had to take an unusual route through the centre of Argyle Square because of the blades' size, each weighing about seven tonnes, and a donation was made to the Argyle Square Area Association by Achairn Energy Ltd – the company developing the wind farm – to mark the group's co-operation. Sharon Swanson, a member of the association, said: "We are delighted with the donation. It will go towards improvements in the green, including planters. She added: "They had arranged with GMR Henderson to remove bollards and are replacing them when they've finished." "Everything went well and the blades went through without a problem." Construction on the wind farm started in August last year, after planning permission was granted in 2006. James Innes, who owns Achairn Energy Ltd along with his brother Ronald, said this week: "The delivery went without a hitch." He added: "A turbine can be erected in two days, weather permitting, and there is a 25-strong Irish team on site at the moment using a 100-ton mobile crane." Mr Innes maintained that the contract has greatly boosted the Caithness economy and said the turbines should be fully operational by mid-May. Related articles: 
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