April 14, 2021
Scotland

Another wind farm planned as campaign group says we are at ‘saturation’ point

The Galloway Gazette | Tuesday, 13th April 2021 | www.gallowaygazette.co.uk

German-owned firm Energiekontor has applied for Dumfries and Galloway Council for planning permission to build a new wind at Garcrogo.

The new development, which would be situated two miles north-west of the village of Corsock, would see the erection of nine wind turbines up to 200m in height and would be operational for 35 years.

The renewable energy development company, which has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Leeds has built eight wind farms to date in the UK and is also active in Germany, France, The Netherlands, Portugal, the USA.

A planning statement submitted tio the council by the firm admits there will be an impact on the landscape, but argues they are helping to meet the Scottish Government’s renewable ebnergy targets.

It states: “The proposed development would result in some change to the local area and this would involve change to the local character and composition from a number of views, but change in itself is not unacceptable.

“Wind energy development will always give rise to significant landscape and visual effects. In this case however, none of the likely environmental effects that would result from the proposed development would, in our view, be unacceptable in the public interest which the planning system serves.

“The proposed development has been brought forward by as a direct response to national energy and planning policies, and to local planning policy documents which identify the site as potentially suitable for wind development.”

Galloway is already home to several wind farms and campaign group Save Our Hills believes enough is enough.

Spokesman Iain Milligan said: “We’re already at saturation point and do not need more onshore windfarms.

“The area generates more than 10 times the local energy demand, meaning a huge and grossly unfair strain is placed on our countryside.

“The local authority must listen to local people and reject this application.

“Everyone understands renewable energy has its place, but the Scottish Government must pursue different sources to onshore windfarms which wreck the landscape and enrage communities.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2021/04/14/another-wind-farm-planned-as-campaign-group-says-we-are-at-saturation-point/