July 19, 2016
Scotland

California windfarm dumped

The Galloway Gazette | 19 July 2016 | www.gallowaygazette.co.uk

The controversial proposal for the California Wind Farm on Stroans Hill, near Carsluith will not go ahead after the Scottish Government dismissed Ecotricity’s appeal today.

The development would have seen the erection of seven turbines right across from Wigtown Bay – the UK’s largest local nature reserve and led to fierce opposition by the action group ‘Save Wigtown Bay’ who were set up when the proposals were first announced.

Ecotricity first lodged their appeal with the Scottish Government on 28th January 2016 on the grounds of non-determination by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Galloway MSP Finlay Carson MSP welcomed the decision by the Scottish Government Reporter.

He said: “Today’s decision by the Scottish Government is the right one.

“Unlike the decision on Mochrum Fell last week, in this case it appears that the voices of local people have been listened to and concerns about the visual impact of the proposed development have been taken into consideration.

“In the end over 1200 objections were received by Dumfries and Galloway Council against this development – a significant number indeed.

“I particularly want to applaud the efforts of the ‘Save Wigtown Bay’ action group who have led the campaign against these proposals for the past two years and have, at every opportunity, put their case across so eloquently.

“As the reporter states in his decision, the development would have had a significant adverse effect on views across the Wigtown Bay from Wigtown and the Machars.

“This confirms the point that made people made at the start – it was never the correct place for a wind farm to be situated”.

Ecotricity founder Dale Vince said: “We’re disappointed with the decision, of course. We’ll take a look at the reasons given, when we get them and decide our next step.

“In Paris last year, the world agreed to limit the Earth’s temperature increase to below two degrees – that means we have to stop burning fossil fuels by 2050. Wind energy has a key role to play in this historic transition – we need to take opportunities like this one – to build more sources of green energy.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/07/19/california-windfarm-dumped/