January 14, 2011
Scotland

New pressure group against wind farms

by Stuart Gillespie, Galloway News, icdumfries.icnetwork.co.uk 13 January 2011

A new pressure group has been formed to oppose the growing number of potential windfarm developments in the Stewartry.

Turbine Watch 312 (TW 312) is made up of residents from across the region concerned that developers are targeting Dumfries and Galloway for turbines.

They are worried about the detrimental impact of windfarms on the region’s tourism industry as well as the landscape and health of local people.

TW 312 – so called because the Stewartry is featured in Ordnance Survey map number 312 – are particularly concerned about four potential developments, consisting of a total of 26 turbines.

One is at Mayfield, Rhonehouse, another at Gelston’s Ingleston Farm, a third at Barcloy Hill, Kirkcudbright, and the final one is at Irelandton, Twynholm.

The group’s Keith Mycock and Rae Leigh were due to give a presentation about TW 312 to Kirkcudbright Community Council last night.

In his presentation, Mr Mycock, who lives in Kirkcudbright, said: “All over Dumfries and Galloway there is a mad scramble to get approval for the erection of wind turbines, ranging from 20 to 130m high.

“In 2009, in planning areas one and two (Wigtownshire and the Stewartry) 63 turbines were applied for, but in 2010 there have been 280, some single turbines and others in groups.

“Dumfries and Galloway is being targeted in particular, not because it has good wind speeds, in fact it is rated as the lowest speed in Scotland.

“It is more likely to be its proximity to grid connections; this is particularly the case for the ones around Tongland.

“It is worth noting that if the Wigtown Bay development goes ahead, Tongland is the preferred option for its connection to the grid. This will result in many pylons across our local countryside.

“Dumfries and Galloway’s operational wind farms are capable of providing 338MW of electricity and there is another 342MW consented but not yet constructed. This is already a doubling of capacity.

“A further 1500MW (including Robin Rigg extension and Wigtown Bay) is also in the planning system at various stages.

“The addition of multiple smaller farms will be an extra burden littering the countryside.”

For more information on TW 312, visit www.tw312.org.uk.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/01/14/new-pressure-group-against-wind-farms/