New wind farm plan could see 43 turbines near village – Southern Reporter

There is the prospect of up to 43 wind turbines being erected close to
Westruther following the production of initial plans for a third wind farm.

An application to the council for a scoping opinion on a scheme for up to
10 turbines at Weetfoot Bog, between Westruther and Duns, has been submitted.

It follows an earlier application from West Coast Energy for the erection
of an 80m wind monitoring mast on the site.

The scoping application is to enable the developers to ascertain what local
issues should be dealt with in a future environmental impact assessment.

The proposed wind farm is adjacent to the Inch Moor scheme, which itself
neighbours the proposed 14-turbine Black Rig wind farm.

The Black Rig scheme was subject to a scoping application at the end of
last year, while the developers of the 19-turbine Inch Moor wind farm
intend to submit a scoping application this year.

In total, should the three schemes, all proposed by different developers,
come to fruition and be approved then the area would see up to 43 turbines
erected.

In the response to the Weetfoot Bog mast application, Scottish Natural
Heritage has stated its objection.

The concerns relate to some 18,000 pink-footed geese that winter in the
Greenlaw Moor Special Protection Area, and the dangers of them colliding
with the mast’s guy ropes, or the diversion of them from their usual routes.

SNH has recommended that if the application is approved a condition should
be that bird deflectors are fitted to the mast’s guy ropes to ensure that
the geese can see them, and so avoid any collisions.