Wind farm traffic a 'safety danger' - objectors

by DOUGLAS SHEPHERD

The town of Hawick will face three years of traffic chaos if a 62-turbine wind farm is given the green light, according to a pressure group which campaigns to improve economic and environmental aspects along the A7 trunk road corridor.

Members of the A7 Action Group which has been in existence since 1990 have lodged a strong objection to the planned Teviot Wind Farm, claiming the intensive pounding by construction traffic could cause the surface of the A7 to fail.

The objection is the latest to be published by the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit which is considering the application from Muirhall Energy. The turbines and associated infrastructure would be scattered over a sizeable part of  rural Teviotdale.

Members of Scottish Borders Council's planning committee are expected to issue their decision on the wind farm project in July. It is expected the issue will eventually proceed to a public inquiry.

A7 Action Group chairman Ian Turnbull says in the objection statement: "[The group] is mindful of the current economic need for proposals to generate clean and sustainable energy, through using the most appropriate forms of technology and locations. 

"However, the A7 Action Group members, having carefully considered this development application from Muirhall Energy Ltd. have serious concerns about several issues relating to the potential construction of this proposed windfarm at Teviothead. This is a popular area located in the heart of the Scottish Borders which forms part of a major tourist corridor between England and Scotland. Whilst primarily concerned with various aspects of safety and damage to the A7 road, the A7 Action Group has also noted other knock-on effects and is therefore opposed to the windfarm application".

As part of their argument, the group refer to traffic volumes resulting from the development of the Teviot turbines.

"The group is concerned at the load size and volume of traffic needed to facilitate deliveries to the site. Analysis of the application highlights that the planned windfarm will consist of sixty-two turbines plus a 34MW solar panel farm. The largest turbines are planned to be of 240-metre height to tip.

"There has already been some major disruption to traffic in the area, due to advanced works being carried out, viz. the removal of street furniture and altering of roundabouts in Hawick to facilitate the transportation of turbines to Pines Burn (wind farm), near Bonchester. The Teviot Windfarm intends to partially use the same land route from the port of delivery to the windfarm site. As the Pines Burn Windfarm turbines are for a planned height of 158 metres to the tip, the proposed Teviot Windfarm, being of a proposed height of 240 metres to the tip, this will inevitably create even more disruption to traffic both on the A7 and within the town of Hawick."

It is claimed each turbine will, by necessity consist of eleven abnormal loads. These loads will consist of three blades, each load being approximately 84 metres in length, including the vehicle, with a combined vehicle and load weight of approximately 76 tonnes; 5 tower sections, each with an overall length, including the vehicle, in excess of 45 metres, and a weight for the tower sections alone at approximately 80 tonnes plus the weight of the vehicle and trailer.

According to the group: "Then there is the width of each of these loads to consider. The tower sections are estimated to be about five metres in width. The blades are likely to be about 4.5 metres in width at their widest point. This is more than the width of a normal carriageway of a two-way undivided road, total width for both carriageways being approximately eight metres."

Having consulted an expert, the group estimates that 178 cement trucks will be required for the construction of each turbine foundation. They go on to calculate 178 x 62 = 11,036 cement loads. And there  will be other material requirements adding to the increased traffic. Each of these material loads will further disrupt the traffic, create delays, and put public safety at risk, says the objection document.

A section of the group's report headed Wear and Tear  says these problems will impose a huge burden on the structure and infrastructure of the A7 corridor as well as other approach roads used by the construction contractors. There is concern that this extra heavy traffic will have a negative effect on the road surface, which may fail. 

Road verges will also be adversely affected due to vehicles moving onto the verges to allow the passage of abnormal loads. The group is of the opinion that this additional wear and tear will result in an increase of damage to vehicles using the road from potential potholes and other damage caused.

"What plans are in place to timeously deal with damage caused to the roads?", they ask.

Then the group points out that once reaching Hawick, the planned route takes the abnormal loads through the town via a series of difficult road junctions and hazards at Wilton Hill, Mart Street, Bourtree Place, High Street, Tower Knowe and Sandbed, before re-joining the A7 at Buccleuch Street.

"Thereafter, abnormal load convoys will travel south on the A7 until they reach the site entrance at Old Northouse. Disruptive traffic delays and congestion are envisioned regardless of the route chosen, with convoys of vehicles approaching and accessing the site. It is also considered that the turn into the site from the A7 will be difficult to safely negotiate".

It is highly likely, say the group, that extreme difficulties will be experienced, even with the planned pre convoy roadworks to alter roundabouts and remove street furniture, for convoy vehicles negotiating the planned route. 

"As well as the pre convoy road works causing extreme disruption to traffic and pedestrians, the convoys themselves will cause a huge amount of chaos within the town centre of Hawick. In view of the width of these loads, most of the width of the roads within the town will be taken up. Public safety will be at risk due to the potential for impatient drivers on the open road outside of Hawick, to ignore any instructions by escort vehicles and personnel, thus a potential for serious road traffic collisions to occur. 

"There does not appear to be any plans to mitigate this disruption and the dangers. The disruption over the entire period of construction, which is believed to be approximately three years, will inevitably have the knock-on effect of being detrimental to businesses and tourism and will therefore have an adverse effect on the local economy."