February 15, 2008
Scotland
Scotland
Campaigners against plans for a massive wind mast have hailed victory after a council knockback.
Councillors turned down an application for a 78-metre anemometry mast at White Hill near Thornhill on Wednesday.
They said granting the application would visually impact in the wider Thornhill regional scenic area.
The application had been met with a groundswell of opposition, which manifested in a protest outside the council HQ in Dumfries before Wednesday’s planning meeting.
Villagers from Closeburn and Thornhill gathered in anger at the plans.
One of the campaigners, Mike Steele, told the Standard: “We are pleased that the council has seen things the same way as us.
“It is very encouraging that they have listened to the electorate.”
Applicants, Accional Energy could appeal to the Scottish Government.
But Mr Steele said: “If they are going to appeal to the Scottish Government then we will fight it.
“People do begin to wonder if Dumfries and Galloway is getting more than its fair share of these things.”
The proposed site of the mast is near to the in-progress Dalswinton wind farm.
According to the applicant, it was to be there for four years with attached guy wires and anchorage points surrounding the mast.
Councillors heard there was a risk of those being a danger to birdlife.
Concern was also raised at the meeting over a red navigation light on top of the mast for the Ministry of Defence which could be seen night and day.
But according to the applicant the structure was “unlikely to result in significant visual impacts” and there was “minimised” risk from bird collisions.
By Craig Robertson
15 February 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/02/15/windfarm-protesters-victory/