July 22, 2016
Scotland

Carsphairn turbine ‘ring of steel’ objection lodged

BBC News | 22 July 2016 | www.bbc.co.uk

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland has objected to wind farm plans which it claims would form a “ring of steel” around a hill in Galloway.

It has concerns about the impact of the 10-turbine Longburn scheme on Cairnsmore of Carsphairn.

The organisation said the project would “close the circle” around the peak.

Developers have said they have already halved the number of turbines and increased their distance from the Southern Upland Way.

MCS chief executive officer David Gibson said: “In the northern view from Cairnsmore of Carsphairn there are no less than 181 turbines operational or consented and 75 in the planning process, none of which MCS has objected to.

“Looking east, we have not objected to a wind farm 10km away with 15 turbines, nor to an extension application for a further 11 turbines.

“Also to the east, but only two to six kilometres away, there are two applications for 31 turbines, to which we have raised objections.”

‘Enough is enough’

He said the organisation also had concerns about the Longburn application, to the south-east of the hill.

“We think enough is enough and we are calling on Dumfries and Galloway Council to refuse the application,” he said.

“We have not objected to many wind farms in this area because we recognise the need for low-carbon electricity generation but, with the risk of Cairnsmore of Carsphairn being entirely encircled by a ring of steel, we are now fighting to save the iconic southward view across the Glenkens to the Rhinns of Kells.”

A design statement for developers Burcote Wind said the company believed the proposal conformed to relevant policy and had taken on board stakeholder consultation with the relevant organisation.

It also said it was an “appropriate design response to the site constraints and opportunities”.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/07/22/carsphairn-turbine-ring-of-steel-objection-lodged/