Shock as Scots farmer threatened with losing his land – for wind farm 300 miles away 

A Scots farmer was left shocked after discovering that a multinational energy company could have ripped land away from him to help build a wind farm 300 miles away. Jack Milroy was approached repeatedly by Equinor who wanted to purchase some of his farm in Kirkcolm, near Stranraer, to create a special coastal habitat for sandwich terns.

After he repeatedly rejected the company’s overtures, it instead went to the Scottish Government to ask whether it would support it in a compulsory purchase order, which would see it forcibly buy the land. It also got a King Counsel opinion which found that it was possible.

Thankfully for Mr Milroy, Equinor managed to secure a deal with a neighbouring farmer for some of their land, but wind farm campaigners Scotland Against Spin have sounded the alarm about these overreaching powers that wind farm developers may have. It comes as the Scottish Government look to ramp up the number of turbines being built on mainland and in the waters surrounding the country, with 5,000 more needed in 15 years to hit net zero targets.

Equinor are looking for sites in the south of Scotland which can be home to sandwich terns due to disruption which will be caused by extending two wind farms off the coast of Norfolk. To mitigate for this, the company searched along the coastline for the best location for these birds to stay.

Dumfries and Galloway councillors will decide this week whether to give permission for this project which will see a special coastal habitat being created including an inland pool with islands to be surrounded by a “predator-proof” fence. Bird viewing hides would also be set up to allow walkers to view the area without disturbing wildlife.

The area Equinor chose was identified as having been a historic breeding site up until about 15 years ago. Opponents have raised concerns about the low likelihood of the project being a success and problems linked to additional visitors to the site.
Terns at NatureScots Forvie National Nature Reserve
Sandwich terns

Wind farm campaigners have highlighted the danger of developers being allowed to buy land from private owners without them being allowed a say. Mr Milroy told the Scottish Daily Express: “I was shocked when Equinor badgered me to let them have 17 acres of my farmland.

“Not least because although Equinor said it was their preferred option, it struck me as a sub-optimal solution to their problem. The reinstatement of the Scar Point island makes much more sense. However, for a long time they wouldn’t take no for an answer, and it was a very stressful time, especially when I discovered that they were considering using compulsory purchase powers.

“Had I lost that land to them it would have reduced the profitability of my farm by up to 25%, and that would have rendered it unviable. Once diggers got in and turned the land upside down, it would have remained permanently useless as farmland. All for a sub-optimal option that probably won’t achieve its purpose anyway.”