A row has erupted over recent figures showing the extent of windfarm
development in the Borders.
Statistics gathered by the Scottish Borders Windfarm network reveal that
there are currently 440 consented or constructed wind turbines impacting
the region, with a further 255 awaiting determination as either
applications or appeals.
And there are hundreds more currently being scoped with plans to move ahead
towards a planning application.
Local Conservative MSP John Lamont has hit out at the figures, saying:
“Although many are individual turbines, there are several large scale
windfarms being set up that will take up vast areas of land that will no
doubt be visible for miles.
“When many Borders residents already believe that we have reached a
saturation point when it comes to windfarms, I am sure they will be deeply
upset that even more are on the way.
“This sudden proliferation of turbines in our region can be sourced back to
the SNP’s ludicrous renewable energy targets.
“Instead of seeking a varied and balanced energy policy, they have driven
ahead with their plans to have more wind energy despite the obvious public
anger it is causing.”
Chair of the Scottish Borders Windfarm Network, Mark Rowley, added: “Our
countryside is now being littered with these turbines and it having a
hugely adverse effect on some of the most beautiful landscapes that
Scotland has to offer.”
But South Scotland MSP Paul Wheelhouse, who is also the Minister for
Environment and Climate Change, maintains that local landowners have the
ultimate say on whether windfarms are given the go-ahead.
He told us: “It can be frustrating for communities to see speculative
applications, but the planning system operates on the principle of
assessing each application, whether for a house or a turbine, on their merits.
“Ultimately, local landowners are the ones that effectively control whether
projects will or will not happen on their land.
“The irony is that three of Mr Lamont’s colleagues in the Scottish
Parliament have their own wind farms in beautiful landscapes, while Lamont
seeks to deny farm businesses elsewhere the opportunity.
“Mr Lamont’s and his party’s hypocrisy and his personal lust for publicity
know no bounds.”
1 Comment
STEVE BAILEY · August 6, 2015 at 10:31 am
Thank god somebody in the uk is getting stuck into building windfarms and solar(,freely available clean energy), what more do you want?
I suggest all the” objectors”( they are not really objecting ,they are just stuck in that” old before your time group “anti everything new”(we dont want “anything” to change).
Take a trip to Holland ,the Netherlands, they look to the future and get things done for the” next generation”.They had hundreds of windmills(windfarms) many many years ago, now they have hundreds of windfarms and they look brilliant ,modern ,clean and creates a new look to a flat landscape and they never stop turning.