COUNCILLORS will this week consider whether or not a wind farm should be built in Blairadam Forest, near Kelty.

Going before the West Planning Committee is a proposal for 11 turbines with a maximum height of 115m, hardstanding, two compounds and cabling.

The proposal is for a development which would involve the construction and operation of 11 wind turbines and associated infrastructure including hardstanding, site access, new access tracks, a substation, construction compound, control building compound, cabling, and anemometry mast. The overall generating capacity of the wind farm would be 22.55MW.

A total of 640 letters of objection have been received. This includes objections from Portmoak Community Council, Kelty Community Council, Clatto Landscape Protection Group, Cleish and Blairadam Community Council, Kinross-shire Civic Trust, SPOTFife and Friends of the Ochils in terms of visual impact amongst other factors.

Knockhill Racing Circuit has also objected on the basis that the 5 rotor would be a huge distraction to the users of their race track.

Planners are recommending that the application be refused.

The report councillors will consider said: "The application should be refused for the following reason(s), in the interests of visual amenity as the proposed development is located within an upland area of significant protection and would have a significant adverse impact on the Cleish Hills Local Landscape Area by virtue of its scale, position and prominence in the landscape particularly from views from the south.

That the development by virtue of its scale, size, number of it turbines and location would have a significant adverse visual impact on the landscape setting of Dunfermline as viewed from the south.

The meeting goes ahead at Dunfermline City Chambers at 2pm.