May 30, 2016
Scotland

Auldgirth turbines turned down

Amanda Kennedy | Sunday 29th May 2016 | www.dng24.co.uk

Councillors rejected plans for a five turbine windfarm near Auldgirth this week.

The Blackwood windfarm scheme was turned down at Tuesday’s meeting of the planning application committee in Dumfries.

A total of 88 formal objections to the project were received.

And a lengthy presentation on the proposal was shown to councillors before objector Guy Willoughbly, of Thornhill, took the floor.

He said: “These windfarms will be 140 m high, the Red Road Flats were 89 m high, that just puts into perspective just how much of a blight on the countryside the turbines would be.”

Representatives from Force 9 Energy, who submitted the application, gave a short presentation and answered questions.

But they failed to impress planning officials who said the windfarm would have a significant adverse impact on the surrounding landscape and refused the application.

Meanwhile, the same councillors gave the green light to a 15 turbine windfarm on hills between Lockerbie and Langholm.

The Crossdykes Windfarm scheme by developers Muirhall Energy had attracted 51 letters of support and just 13 formal objections.

Two locals spoke against the project, while four people spoke in support of the development, which will net surrounding communities £260,000 yearly for the 25-year lifespan of the project.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/05/30/auldgirth-turbines-turned-down/