Council says no to more turbines – East Lothian Courier

Objection lodged to third phase of Lammermuirs wind farm

East Lothian Council has sided with Scottish Borders Council in opposing
plans for a windfarm extension in the Lammermuirs.

Community Windpower Ltd wants to build 27 turbines in the Aikengall IIa
scheme, 12.5km kilometres south of Dunbar.

Already, 16 of its turbines are in place at Aikengall Wind Farm (Aikengall
I), with a further 19 at nearby Aikengall II alreadygranted planning
permission.

Now, a planning application for 27 more turbines has gone forward to
Scottish Ministers.

Among the reasons given for the council’s objection was the cumulative
impact it would have in respect of other windfarm developments, including
Aikengall I, Crystal Rig, Wester Dod, Ferneylea and Hoprigshiel.

Eight of the 27 turbines would be in East Lothian. The plans also include
access roads, control room buildings and a 90-metre high wind monitoring mast.

Dunbar and East Linton councillor Michael Veitch, the local authority’s
depute leader, said: “It is a matter of enormous regret that an application
for yet another large extension to an existing wind farm in the Lammermuirs
is being sought.

“Aikengall 2A, which is the third phase of the Aikengall development, would
consist of 27 additional turbines straddling East Lothian and the Borders,
adding yet more turbines to the increasingly vast Aikengall/Crystal Rig
wind farm ‘zone’.

“I am therefore very pleased that East Lothian Council has objected to this
application on the grounds of adverse landscape and visual impacts.”

Chris Bruce, East Lammermuir Community Council chairman, said the proposals
had been met with “dismay” by the community council and described the
proposed addition of 27 turbines as “a significant extension”.

Now, Mr Veitch is calling on Holyrood to pay attention and listen to the
views of the local authority and local people.

He said: “I would therefore urge the Scottish Government to heed this
advice ­ which I am convinced is in line with the views of local people ­
and to reject the application for Aikengall 2A.”