March 27, 2025
As the public local inquiry into the Hill of Fare wind farm looms, our community stands at a crossroads. The proposed 16-turbine project by RES, promising 105.6 MW of power and a £150 million economic boost, remains under scrutiny following Aberdeenshire Council’s objection in October 2024. With Scottish Ministers now deciding its fate, the Hill of Fare Windfarm Information Group continues to voice concerns about noise, visual blight, and biodiversity loss—issues that echo growing unease across the UK about the government’s Net Zero ambitions.
Recent public sentiment reveals a nation divided. While polls show broad support for the 2050 Net Zero target—around 70% of Brits back it, per a 2024 IEMA survey—confidence in its delivery is waning. Official government polling shows that seven in ten doubt the UK will meet this 2050 target, citing rising costs and perceived burdens on households. The Climate Change Committee’s July 2024 warning that the UK is “off track” for Net Zero only fuels this skepticism. Here in Aberdeenshire, the Hill of Fare project embodies these tensions: renewable energy promises clashing with local realities.
Our group’s opposition, backed by over 1,700 objections and 71% of consultation attendees, aligns with this national mood. The concensus is fast pivoting; wind farms occupy significant land area, for a relatively low payback in installed capacity, and can impact human health and social wellbeing through noise and shadow flicker, potentially causing insomnia and headaches, anxiety and depression—concerns we’ve raised since RES’s 2023 proposal. The turbines, towering up to 200m, could be visible 22 miles away, threatening tourism income in our scenic region. Economic benefits, like £50 million in business rates, feel distant and insignificant when weighed against these costs.
The UK public’s call for a “fairer” Net Zero path, echoed in the PM’s 2024 pledge to ease financial pressures, resonates here. We’re not against green energy, but it must respect communities. As the inquiry unfolds, we urge residents to join us—review objection guides on our site, sign the petition, and attend hearings. The Hill of Fare fight isn’t just local; it’s a stand for a Net Zero policy that listens. Let’s ensure our voices shape a sustainable future, not just a rushed one.
Check out our objection documents elsewhere on this website and also go to the Naefare website for more information
As much as we all need to preserve our environment with cleaner, more sustainable energy the proposed wind farm will be the ruin of the Scottish countryside in North Kincardineshire.
The Hill of Fare is still a popular walking destination and is categorized as one of the Sub-2000s (sub 2000 feet in elevation…see Walk Highlands website). Not only this, for the sake of Scottish heritage; the Eastern side of the Hill of Fare is where part of the Battle of Corrichie was fought in October 1562 and there was a memorial dedicated to it by the Deeside Field Club in 1951.
Sadly, this all means nothing to those with investments in the wind-farm. Thank you for all your work at hilloffare.org.
I live in Wales and am taking an interest in what monster Wind Turbines are proposed for ‘The Hill of Fare’ in your area. These developers apply the same tricks everywhere, and need to be challenged. They always quote the ‘capacity’ of their projects in how many houses they can supply. In the case of ‘Hill of Fare’ they quote 101,000 houses.
The word ‘capacity’ means the absolute maximum in the most favourable of strong steady wind. The effective average is only just 25%, or a quarter, of what they quote. So that 101,000 becomes just over 25,000. Then houses only consume about one third of the Grid. The bulk two thirds of our electric grid supplies factories; offices; shops; schools; hospitals and colleges etc.. So the 25,000 becomes just over 8,000 houses. This regular deceit is done to hoodwink ‘green’ innumerate Politicians of all parties who never question the snake oil salesmen. I hope the canny Scots living around ‘Hill of Fare’ impress this upon their Planners and Politicians.
Mr. I Richard, Swansea, Wales.
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Mr Ioan Richard, 4 Twynybedw, Clydach, Swansea, Wales SA65EN.
aptrefor@yahoo.co.uk
A retired long serving County Councillor and former Science Teacher.
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