December 9, 2017
Scotland

Windfarm lined up for the Glenkens would be 465th turbine in 20-mile radius

Daily Record | 8 Dec 2017 | www.dailyrecord.co.uk

Another windfarm is set to get the green light in the Glenkens.

If councillors give Windy Rig the go-ahead today it would become the 23rd site in a 20-mile radius, either operating or in the planning stage, and hike the total number of turbines to 465.

Planners are recommending approval for Element Power Northern Europe Developments’ scaled down proposals for Windy Rig, in the hills some eight kilometres north-east of Carsphairn.

But legal agreements would have to be signed and sealed within six months and 39 conditions would have to be met before the development gets under way.

The full application for 12 turbines with a maximum height of 125 metres, a permanent meteorological mast, substation compound, upgraded site access, three temporary borrow pits and infrastructure, will go before the planning applications committee today.

Members will be shown a picture of the density of windfarms in the area.

Twenty-two, with a total of 453 turbines, are already either operational or in the pipeline within 20 kilometres.

There are two operating within five kilometres. Windy Standard, roughly 500 metres north, has 32 turbines up and running with a further 30 being built. Afton Farm, near New Cumnock, just 1.3 kilometres away, has 27 turbines running.

On top of that there are four applications pending:

Windy Standard phase three for a further 20 turbines; South Kyle, four kilometres to the north-west has just had 50 approved; Pencloe, in East Ayrshire, 4.7 kilometres to the north, might see 21 developed although the application is going to a public local inquiry; and 19 are planned for Enoch Hill, 7.6 kilometres to the north-west.

Others approved within 10 kilometres are Wether Hill, at Moniaive; Whiteside Hill and Blackhill to Magheugh-an Rigg at Sanquhar; Hare Hill phase one and two. They feature 96 turbines either already operational or being constructed.

A further four applicat-ions – Lorg, Benbrack, Sanquhar 6 and Wether Hill extension at Moniaive, with a total of 44 turbines – are yet to be decided.

Seven more windfarms are situated within 20 kilometres of Windy Rig – Sunnyside, Sandy Knowe, Torrs Hill, Glenmuckloch (2), Twentyshilling and Blackcraig Hill – and feature 70 turbines either working or on their way.

And a further four undetermined applications for Ulzieside, Margree, Knockmanhill at Dalry and Lethans in East Ayrshire could add a further 39.

Carsphairn Community Council have objected on the grounds there are just too many.

While not opposed to windfarms in general, as Carsphairn has benefited financially from existing windfarm community funds, the council feels the cumulative effect of so many has not been thought through.

And they fear the stage is now being reached where tourism could be hit hard with associated business losing out.

Their objection also lists environmental concerns and fears the developments could put people off moving to the area.

There are no objections from statutory organisations.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/12/09/windfarm-lined-up-for-the-glenkens-would-be-465th-turbine-in-20-mile-radius/