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Golfers’ green concerns
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Angry Moffat Golf Club members fear one of the region’s most picturesque valleys will be blighted by a massive electrical substation and overhead cables.
ScottishPower is planning to develop the substation, a connection for its Harestanes windfarm and the national grid, over 13 hectares at Bearholm, Moffat.
It is also expected to connect with wind energy’s proposed 36-turbine Earlshaugh windfarm on top of the Devil’s Beeftub, which is expected to go for planning permission shortly.
ScottishPower is also planning to put up 15 kilometres of overhead line, passing above the town’s Golf Hill to the substation.
And golf club vice-captain Bill Burnett fears the substation and overhead power line will have a profound effect on the golf course.
He is part of a small action group of club members who are planning an open day in the town to show residents what the proposed developments could mean.
“We plan to leaflet everyone in Moffat to let them no what is proposed and to hold this open day,” he said.
“Although we have not yet set a date it is expected to be in March.
“We have already raised our concerns with ScottishPower and asked them to either stop this development, reroute it along the motorway side of the valley instead or put the cable underground.”
Bill says the plans involve four acres of actual substation buildings and 30 acres of landscaping.
And because it falls on a floodplain, the site will have to be raised by two metres.
“In 1994 pylons were removed from the valley and it is very picturesque now. We rely on it to attract tourists which bring income to Moffat and don’t want anything to spoil it.
Mr Burnett added: “We understand the pylons carrying this overhead cable will be 16 metres high running down the west side of the valley.
“They will be seen from most of the town and from our clubhouse and various parts of our course.
“It is the industrialisation of our countryside.”
A petition is also planned.
By Sharon Liptrott
15 February 2008
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