March 2, 2015
Scotland

Revised Aikengall wind farm proposal opposed

Revised wind farm plans opposed | BBC News | 2 March 2015 | www.bbc.co.uk

Councillors in the Scottish Borders have voted to oppose revised plans for a wind farm straddling the boundary with East Lothian.

Planning officers had advised them not to object to the Aikengall IIa scheme near Cockburnspath.

Community Windpower has reduced the proposals from 27 turbines to 19.

Planning officers at Scottish Borders Council said it was an improvement on previous plans but councillors voted 5-2 to oppose them.

Last September SBC’s planning committee agreed that the scheme as it stood would “unacceptably harm” the Borders landscape and have a detrimental impact on locals and visitors.

Concerns remained

A new plan, with the number of turbines reduced to 19, was presented to councillors.

Planning officials had advised the authority not to object but to ask the Scottish government to examine the design and layout of the wind farm.

However, councillors decided that their concerns about the project remained.

They voted to object to the scheme due to its landscape and amenity impact.

The final decision on the development will lie with the Scottish government.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/03/02/revised-aikengall-wind-farm-proposal-opposed/