First Public Exhibition – Crathes Hall

A full car park greeted people arriving at the exhibition at Crathes Hall for today’s first Public Exhibition.

RES brought along a very slick set of information boards detailing various aspects of the potential development including: –

• Photographic mock-ups showing possible views from various points around the local area.
• Maps showing an “indicative” infrastructure layout – i.e. planned access roads onto and over the hill.
• Information boards stating the general case for onshore wind.
• Details of the currently scoped wind turbines showing their size and power output.
• Further information stressing the “climate emergency”.
• A “Maximising the Local Benefit” board.

Notably absent was any real acknowledgment of a potential downside to the development?

The developers were well represented with 7 or 8 individuals including: –

• Development Project Manager (RES)
• a Project Engineer (RES)
• a Civil Engineer
• a couple of Landscape Architects (Pegasus)
• a Public Relations / Comms person (LPRC)
• the Chief Executive at Dunecht Estates

The exhibition was a well organised and good natured affair with good opportunities for everyone to ask questions and give their opinions in a civil manner.

A record was kept by RES of people attending the exhibition in the form of names and post codes.

Everyone was also asked to complete a ‘comments form’. The form stretched to 8 pages with sections relating to: –

• Opinions on the information and effectiveness of the exhibition
• Individual’s views on climate change, energy security and renewables
• A canvassing of support (or otherwise) based on the current scoping plan
• Potential benefits / incentives to local individuals and communities

Crathes, Drumoak and Durris Community Council had procured a table in the corner at the event and were carrying out their own survey with a much more time-friendly single sheet format.

All in all, the event appeared to be useful and informative and generally quite well received, albeit that the information presented tended to be predictably biased towards the benefits rather than any possible downsides.

There are three remaining “Public Exhibitions” planned: –

• 5-8pm 11th October – Echt Hall
• 11am-2pm 12th October – Midmar Hall
• 5-8pm 12th October – Learn Hall – Torphins