LOCHGELLY Community Council is asking members of the public to attend a meeting tonight (Wednesday) where plans for a new wind farm in the vicinity of the town will be outlined.

The community council have invited AMEC Wind Developments to present their proposals for the development and management of a ‘proposed new wind farm’ to the north west of Lochgelly.

AMEC have already met with Kelty Community Council and have future meetings arranged with community councils from Cowdenbeath and Benarty.

The public are invited to attend the meeting tonight at Lodge Minto 385, in North Street, Lochgelly, in order to ask questions or raise issues. The proposals will be discussed at 6.30pm with standard community council business on the agenda for 7.30pm.

The potential site has been earmarked at Hilton of Beath Farm, to the east of Kelty and preliminary studies have shown that the site has the potential to accommodate six wind turbines of up to 100m to tip height.

AMEC, who acquired the site this month, say they intend to develop the site in partnership with the local community who would own and receive income from one of the turbines as well as receiving “community benefits.” Given the location next to the Lochore Meadows Country Park, AMEC acknowledge that the development is sensitive and they aim to work with the park manager and Fife Coast and Countryside Trust to ensure this sensitivity is addressed. The company stress that they are keen to open up access to the site and improve footpaths between neighbouring towns and villages and the country park.

Locals and visitors would be able to get up close to the turbines and find out more about how they work, say AMEC.

Lochgelly Community Council chairman Stevie Murray hopes that people will turn out tonight and give their views on this latest application for a wind farm in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area.