Protestors show opposition to Dumfries and Galloway windfarm proposals 

Around 150 people packed out The Hive at Glentrool to view proposals for a wind farm on nearby moorland.

The engagement event staged by developers German renewables giant Energiekontor was set up to gauge public opinion on the bid.

However, as the crowd filed, in finding anyone backing the controversial 18 200-metre high turbines at Glenvernoch proved an impossible task.

Company representatives brought 50 feedback forms for completion by the public, many of whom were members of protest group Hands Off Our Hills.

The questionnaires ran out within minutes – prompting several visits to the community hub’s office for new supplies.

The Hive project manager, Billie Jones, said: “The reps came in and requested that I print off some extra forms for them.

“They did that in stages throughout the day and by the end they had taken 90.”

Not everyone present completed the questionnaires, suggesting that estimates of an attendance of more than 150 over the three-hour session were accurate.

Bargrennan man Neil Skelton, whose home stands less than a mile from the site, helped design, produce and deliver the glossy four-page Hands Off Our Hills information leaflet.

He told the News: “I sat down and thought how can we win against these sites so I researched the information and put something together to inform people.

“I love this area so much and I have lived my whole life here.

“But seeing the strength of feeling about this I’m much more hopeful than I was at the beginning.

“I have had enough of being battered by the political system.

“If this goes through I can’t stay here.

“The wind turbines are the final straw.”

Mr Skelton added: “All the walks I go on won’t be the same and there will be a terrible impact on nature and wildlife.

“I was for wind turbines before but now I would object to any more because it’s all about money.

“They have enough sites already.”

Barry Donnan of Glentrool

To applause, Barry Donnan made his feelings plain when the event opened.

Addressing the Energiekontor delegation, he said: “I just think there’s no point in beating about the bush.

“And I don’t think there is any way this is going to happen.

“I think you underestimate the land and the landscape – the community will pull together here.”

He told the News: “This campaign has echoes of Mullwharchar.

“But there’s going to have to be a fight.

“I’m a parent and originally from Dalmellington and have been walking these hills since I was 14.”

Nick Biggins, from Kirkcudbright, was unimpressed by display boards showing the turbines as tiny objects on the horizon.

“The exhibition is cheap and insignificant,” he told the News.

“It does not tell us anything.

“It’s underwhelming, disappointing and of no use.”

Lynne Hardman, from Old Minnigaff, said: “It is what we expected as a PR exercise.

“It’s a bit thin – there were expectations of a 3D model but that’s not transpired.

“People wanted to see the scale of what they were dealing with.

“The level of feeling is overriding what they are trying to convey.”

Chris Smyth, from Urrall, near Kirkcowan, also opposed the Glenvernoch scheme.

He said: “We already have a big strip of wind turbine developments from Barlockart near Glenluce right to Barrhill.

“We can hear a low grumble from them over the back of us all the time.

“When these turbines were joined into one continuous strip I thought that was it.

“But now they are planning more north of Newton Stewart.”

Energiekontor project manager, George Oldroyd, accepted the turnout had been much bigger than he expected.

He said: “I have done six so far with Energiekontor and four or five others.

“But this is the biggest one I have done.

“I was aware it would be busy and had anticipated perhaps 50 people.

“So to hear a figure of more than 100 people does not surprise me.”

Asked if any support had been expressed for the scheme, he said: “I’m not aware of anybody being in favour.

“People have been saying there’s enough turbines, that it’s saturation.

“That was one of the main reasons for objections.

“We will take away the points from here and go through the consultation feedback forms, and the constructive criticisms of the design.

“We are awaiting a scoping opinion from the Scottish Government and the results of the public consultation.

“It’s looking like there will be another alteration to the design.

“Subject to the scoping opinion and what the Scottish Government says we would then look towards the planning application stage and hold another public meeting.

“There could be three or four design changes.”

Asked what would happen if there was 100 per cent local opposition, Mr Oldroyd said: “We are governed by national and local policy.”

Meanwhile, RES, the developers of the proposed Blair Hill wind farm over the Cree from Glenvernoch, failed to show up at Cree Valley Community Council on Monday night. They had been due to give a presentation on the scheme.

Convenor Clifford Smithers told the meeting company representatives had phoned “to ask directions”.

Around 50 Hands Off Our Hills protestors gathered outside the McMillan Hall awaiting their arrival.