NEWS: There's a cold (war) wind blowing

By MARK McLAUGHLIN
Edinburgh Evening News
25 March 2010

THE owners of a Cold War nuclear bunker on Corstorphine Hill want to build a 190ft wind turbine on the site to raise money for its restoration.

It is hoped the heavily shielded underground air-defence bunker at Barnton Quarry, built at the beginning of the Cold War in 1952, can be turned into a thriving visitor attraction.

But restoring the bunker will cost up to £10 million after vandals set fire to thousands of tyres dumped there in 1993.

The owners - who operate tours of Scotland's Secret Bunker, near Anstruther, in Fife - hope to raise some of the money by harnessing the wind power on the hill. Residents are expected to protest at the size of the proposed turbine on the beauty spot.

Kelvin Donaldson, of Grassmarket-based Gilbert architects, who is working on the project, said: "People will probably think the creation of a wind turbine in central Edinburgh is a bit unsuitable, but there have been two in central Dundee for years without any problems.

"People have a conception that they're noisy but decibel tests have shown that the noise dissipates very quickly.

"The bunker itself is little more than a burnt-out shell so it will be a costly task to restore it.

"The Anstruther bunker was handed over in perfect condition, with polished hardwood flooring and everything still intact. Even the beds were made. It will cost almost as much to restore the Edinburgh bunker as it did to build it from scratch, and even if you cut some corners you're still looking at several million pounds."

Friends of Corstorphine Hill secretary Donald Gorrie said the association has been in regular contact with the bunker's owner, James Mitchell, about antisocial behaviour on the site.

Mr Gorrie said: "We've spoken to Mr Mitchell about this many times so he's not top of our Christmas card list, shall we say. As the site's owner he's entitled to try to make something from it, within reason, so we'll just have to live with it provided he does it without making it a Mecca for more local undesirables.

"We have had some discussions about the turbine but we've yet to lodge a formal objection to plans. There are concerns about having something of that size on the hill so I think it's likely that an objection will be lodged soon."

Corstorphine Community Council is also concerned, with planning leader Warren Hope saying: "Most of the objections have been about the appearance of it.

"Corstorphine Hill can be seen from all of the major viewing points in the city, such as Edinburgh Castle, and we would be adverse to anything that detracts from the appearance of the hill."