Gerry Braiden
Senior reporter
CAMPAIGNERS and developers are heading for a showdown over plans for a
windfarm overlooking the UK’s largest local nature reserve.
Green power firm Ecotricity is to stage a public meeting over its plans for
turbines on the hills facing Wigtown Bay on the Galloway coast, just a
month after accusations it declined to meet protesters.
The firm is expected to submit a formal application for the plans for seven
413ft tall turbines in the coming weeks.
The move has sparked local ire, amid claims it would damage both the area’s
local tourism, as well as wildlife.
Last month, Galloway residents formed the ‘Save Wigtown Bay’ protest group
to oppose Ecotricity, with matters expected to come to a head at an
exhibition today (wed) at the village hall in Carsluith.
A second event is planned for tomorrow (thur) at Wigtown County Buildings.
A proposal to construct an offshore windfarm in Wigtown Bay was turned down
by the Scottish Government in early 2011. The potential effect on tourism
was cited as a major reason in the decision.
The campaigners say the turbines would dominate the landscape over the bay,
which is the biggest local nature reserve in Britain, with four Site of
Special Scientific (SSI) Interests within a mile of the proposed windfarm.
With Wigtown home to an increasingly popular literary festival and an
inspiration for Robert Burns, J M Barrie and Gavin Maxwell, author of Ring
of Bright Water, one campaigner said the plans would “form a heinous
backdrop to Scotland’s National Book Town”.
There have been accusations the turbines would “scar the Galloway Hills and
views from the Machars Coast indefinitely”, interfere with plans for
further breeding eagles to be introduced in area already home to peregrine
falcons, hen harriers, ospreys and red kites.
The developers also face claims the setting of many significant sites of
archaeological or historical importance would be tarnished by the turbines.
A Save Wigtown Bay spokesman said: “We encourage as many people to attend
and ask questions.
“According to the Ecotricity website they are now planning to reduce the
turbine height to 110 metres (413ft), which is still four times the height
of the Wigtown County buildings and 60 metres taller than the biggest man
made structures that should be considered for the area.
“Also, they are planning to increase the length of each moving blade by
four metres. This will make the visual impact much worse for everyone who
can see them.”
An application by Ecotricity for a mast was turned down by Dumfries and
Galloway Council last August but it has appealed directly to the Scottish
Government.
A company spokesman said: “we carry out extensive assessments and surveys
that ensure minimal impact on the local area. If there were unacceptable
impacts, we would not get permission and would not pursue the application
in the first place.
“Given the distance from Sites of SSI, the topography of the site and its
placement within the Galloway Hills RSA, we are confident that the
landscape can accommodate the turbines.
“We have consulted with SNH and RSPB, as well as carrying out our own data
analysis and seasonal surveys, and the results of these assessments confirm
that there are no significant effects on wildlife in the area.”
“The process is not inflexible and we recognise that an iterative approach
is the best way to ensure the optimum environmental fit: that said, if we
do receive new information, we are happy to incorporate changes into the
plan or put mitigation measures in place to counter any potential impacts.”
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