Council struggles over windfarm objection

Community councillors debate the need for more wind turbines

TWO new giant windfarms, proposed for sites near Langholm, are causing a headache for community
councillors.
Scoping reports have been submitted for Callisterhall where it is proposed to build 25 turbines at 220m high and for the Meggat Valley in Westerkirk where there would be 20 turbines, also 220m high.
This would be in addition to the proposal to build 45 turbines at Faw Side between Ewes, Westerkirk and Teviothead.
There is also planning permission granted for windfarms at Loganhead and Hopsrig
between Langholm and
Bentpath.
There are operational turbines at the Craig near Langholm, Ewe Hill and Minsca, while two others are being built at Crossdykes and Solwaybank.
At Langholm, Ewes and
Westerkirk community council’s meeting on Monday members voiced concern about the
Westerkirk windfarm proposal but were unsure on which grounds to object.
Margaret Sanderson said: “We have to decide whether we want to object, particularly if we’re going to have Faw Side,
although it’s gone very quiet there.
“The Westerkirk Library Trust has objected, mainly because the Thomas Telford trail goes right up that way.
“I can’t understand how they will get turbines up there. Somewhere along the line they will have to use the single-track road.”
Consultation
Mark Hodgson was concerned there had been no public consultation.
He said: “There’s a possibility that a company, seeking to secure planning permission for developments, will sell it onto another company which will develop it. I would not be surprised by that.”
Robert Dickson, vice-chairman, asked on what grounds did they want to object.
Councillor Ronnie Tait said they should consider highlighting the saturation point they had reached with windfarms.
He suggested they look at websites which gave information on how to object to windfarms and put in an objection because of its size.
Middlebie and Waterbeck community council has already sent an objection to the Scottish
government’s Energy Consent Unit about Callisterhall.
The community council’s
objections centred on the disproportionate size and scale; at 220m it would be the tallest onshore windfarm in the UK.
It would have an impact on the rural road network. Already, the key route for residents and business was closed indefinitely
because it was deemed unsafe since windfarm trenching and cabling had left the surface in such a state of collapse that it was now unsuitable for any traffic.
There would be an impact on homes from noise, destruction of peat and wildlife would be affected. It would also damage tourism.
They complained there had been no community engagement and they were being ignored.
They were also concerned about the incremental impact. There were already a significant number of operational and proposed windfarms, currently eight.
Current operational and consented developments totalled 98 turbines and this would increase to 123 if Callisterhall got
consent.