By Kathryn Wylie
Revived plans for a controversial wind farm development near Roberton will
go on show today.
ABO Wind UK is resurrecting proposals rejected three years ago to put up
wind turbines at Barrel Law, two miles north-west of Roberton and almost
six miles west of Hawick.
The plans were initially submitted five years ago to Scottish Borders Council.
Councillors threw out that application by the company, a Livingston-based
subsidiary of German firm ABO Wind, in 2013, and a subsequent appeal was
rejected by the Scottish Government due to concerns over the impact the
eight 125m turbines proposed would have on the landscape and on aviation radar.
This time round, the number of turbines planned has been reduced from eight
to seven, and they would be sited further north, nearer the
already-operational Langhope Rig wind farm and further away from the Ale
Water and the Ashkirk-to-Roberton road.
ABO Wind UK’s head of development, Clark Crosbie, said: “The site is
located in an area identified as having the highest capacity for wind
turbines in the Scottish Borders Council’s draft renewable energy
supplementary guidance, and it is also located well outside the area being
discussed for a proposed Borders national park.
“In addition, the site has good wind resource, a readily available
electricity grid connection, proven turbine delivery route and is
relatively isolated, with 15 homes within 3km of the proposed wind turbines.”
The firm is holding a public exhibition today at the Forman Memorial Hall
in Roberton, from 1pm to 8pm, to display its initial designs and gather
feedback on the revived proposals.
Mr Crosbie added: “We do hope there will be a good turnout for this exhibition.
“We are very keen to get as much feedback as we can on this new design.”
Following the public exhibition and a further period of design and
environmental impact assessment, a formal planning application could be
submitted for consideration by planners as soon as this summer.
Widespread opposition to the plans is anticipated this time round too, and
Chesters Wind Farm Action Group chairman Philip Kerr said: “The return of a
previous application that has been refused at all levels with only minor
changes is another example of a failure to respect community views.
“The communities were totally against this previously, so I am very
disappointed that local opinion and views are being ignored with the
decision to refile.”
More information about the Barrel Law wind farm proposals is available at
www.barrellawwindfarm.com
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