Committee
Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation and Fishing) (Scotland) Bill Committee, 26 Mar 2003
26 Mar 2003 · S1 · Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation and Fishing) (Scotland) Bill Committee
Item of business
Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation and Fishing) (Scotland) Bill: Consideration Stage
Amendments 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 all deal with cable connections and routes within the wind farm and to the Scottish border.The promoters now propose that, instead of having only one cable, the connection should be made by two cables that are laid approximately 25m apart along the same route. Amendment 5 would add flexibility to the design of the wind farm; for the purposes of applications elsewhere for consents to generate electricity, it recognises that the bill covers two separate leases. Accordingly, the amendment seeks to amend the description in section 1(1)(e) to "two armoured cables".Amendment 7 would reduce greatly the size of the schedule and provide the promoters with increased flexibility to allow the cables to be laid in direct lines between any of the turbines and between the turbines that immediately adjoin the substation. The cables would still be buried.Amendments 10 and 11 are consequential to amendment 7. Section 2 provides the promoter with the power to deviate from specified locations when constructing and maintaining the wind farm. At the moment, the power applies to all the works as well as the cables. Given the flexibility proposed in amendment 7, amendment 10 would restrict the power to deviate to the turbines, the electrical substation or the anemometry mast and, along with amendment 11, would remove reference to the cables. Amendment 11 would reinstate the figure of 50m as the limit of deviation allowed for the structures.Amendment 9 is a consequential amendment that follows on from the possible relocation of the substation. It seeks to allow for an alternative route for the cable connection from the wind farm to the Scottish border. Any alteration to the cable route would also need approval from the Scottish ministers under section 34 of the Coast Protection Act 1949.Amendment 8 is a minor consequential amendment to paragraph 5 of schedule 1.I move amendment 5.
In the same item of business
The Convener (Mr Tom McCabe):
Lab
Good afternoon and welcome to the consideration stage of the Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation and Fishing) (Scotland) Bill. I apologise for being a ...
Section 1—Authority for works obstructing navigation and fishing
The Convener:
Lab
The first group of amendments covers issues regarding turbine height and turbine clearance. Amendment 1 is grouped with amendments 2, 16 and 17.
Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
Amendments 1, 2 and 16 were lodged by the promoters to address construction issues that have arisen since the bill was introduced. The amendments are intende...
The Convener:
Lab
As Mike Rumbles suggested, John Home Robertson has agreed to lodge the amendments that the committee wishes to make to the bill as a result of our considerat...
Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab):
Lab
As you said, convener, amendment 17 will implement decisions that the committee has already made. It will impose on the promoter a requirement to have an act...
Amendment 1 agreed to.
Amendment 2 moved—Mr Mike Rumbles—and agreed to.
The Convener:
Lab
Amendment 3 is grouped with amendments 4 and 6.
Mr Rumbles:
LD
Amendments 3, 4 and 6 have been proposed by the promoters to allow an increase in the space that is allocated to the electrical substation and to provide an ...
Amendment 3 agreed to.
Amendment 4 moved—Mr Mike Rumbles—and agreed to.
The Convener:
Lab
Amendment 5 is grouped with amendments 7 to 11.
Mr Rumbles:
LD
Amendments 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 all deal with cable connections and routes within the wind farm and to the Scottish border.The promoters now propose that, i...
The Convener:
Lab
Do members have any comments?
Mr Home Robertson:
Lab
I am sorry, convener—it is a mistake to listen to debates. If we are being asked to agree to the laying of extra cables, I seek an assurance that fishing int...
The Convener:
Lab
Fishermen are not allowed to fish within the wind farm.
Mr Home Robertson:
Lab
I am talking about the extra main cable to the landfall.
The Convener:
Lab
The cables from the farm to the substation will be buried.
Amendment 5 agreed to.
Amendment 16 moved—Mr Mike Rumbles—and agreed to.
Section 1, as amended, agreed to.
Schedule 1Location of the regulated works
Amendments 6 to 9 moved—Mr Mike Rumbles—and agreed to.
Schedule 1, as amended, agreed to.
Section 2—Power to deviate from specified locations
Amendments 10 and 11 moved—Mr Mike Rumbles—and agreed to.
Section 2, as amended, agreed to.
Sections 3 and 4 agreed to.
Section 5—Exclusion zones for navigation, trawling and anchoring