Common good land in Wick earmarked for turbine movements
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A stretch of common good land beside the River Wick has been earmarked for lease to wind farm developers – but it won’t be used for turbines.
The proposed “ribbon lease” is a technical way for developers of renewable projects to get permission to transport large goods such as turbine blades which stretch beyond the boundaries of the public highway.
Each developer requires permission to “oversail” the land in question in order to secure the necessary funding to progress with such large-scale schemes.
Highland Council is now consulting with the public in Wick on its plan to lease small pockets of land at Riverside Park for this purpose.
It says the move will “not impact on the use of the land as a public park other than for the limited period of the actual oversail, nor will there be any physical occupation of the land”.
The lease simply allows the developer to transport the oversized vehicles and prove to funders that they have the legal right to do so.
The council says the lease will represent a viable income generation opportunity for the newly activated Wick Common Good Fund.
The use of “ribbon leases” allows several developers to use the land in this way over the lifetime of a wind farm.
Further information is available on the consultation at: https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/20010/community_planning/830/common_good_asset_changes
Written responses should be submitted either by email to common.good@highland.gov.uk or by post to Sara Murdoch, The Highland Council HQ, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX.
Responses are sought by January 5, 2024.
