Campaigners demand scrutiny of Findhorn wind farm parts park

Campaigners are demanding that plans to park parts of floating wind turbines off Findhorn be scrutinised by an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

Offshore Solutions Group (OSG) has proposed its Moray Flow-Park for an area of seabed in the Moray Firth's Findhorn Bay.

It had planned to have a second storage site off Nairn but dropped this proposal in November.

Moray Firth No to the Flow Park Steering Group said it would formally request an EIA be done. OSG said it had requested confirmation about what legislation applied to its plans, adding that it was not seeking to avoid having a study done.

An EIA is an assessment of the "likely significant environmental effects" arising from a proposed development.

There are rules around the kind of developments that require an EIA.

Under OSG's plans, foundation base units - large platforms usually made from concrete or metal - would be stored temporarily at the Moray Flow-Park.

Campaigners said the Moray Firth was nationally and internationally recognised for its wildlife, including bottlenose dolphins and seabirds.

A spokesperson for the steering group said: "The proposed Moray Flow-Park, as a large-scale offshore energy development, carries the potential for significant and wide-ranging environmental impacts that demand rigorous and transparent assessment.

"The requirement for an EIA in such cases is not a procedural formality. It is a fundamental safeguard."

The spokesperson said a formal request for an assessment would be made to the Scottish government's Marine Directorate.

OSG said it submitted an EIA screening request to the Marine Directorate last month, and the document was available to the public.

A spokesperson said: "It does not in any way absolve Offshore Solutions Group of responsibilities nor is it any effort to avoid completing the full EIA or any EIA.

"We have always maintained across all documentation and conversations that we are committed to completing an EIA, and the breadth and depth of the early-stage screening report, completed by EIA specialists appointed by Offshore Solutions Group, is wholly indicative of this approach."

The Scottish government said the project was still at an early stage.

A spokesperson added: "Offshore Solutions Group has requested a screening opinion from Scottish Ministers to determine whether or not an application for the proposed works must be supported by an EIA report.

"This is currently undergoing statutory consultation, in line with the EIA regulations."

They added that, irrespective of the outcome of this process, any planning application would be accompanied by environmental information and subject to public consultation.