Amanda Crawford
A planning proposal to Dumfries and Galloway Council for a single temporary
wind mast at Thornhill has left nearby residents upset.
If granted permission EDF Energy Renewables, the company behind the
application, will erect one 90 metre wind monitoring mast on Auchinleck
Hill, north east of the village.
The plan is to take it down after 36 months and review the prospect of
installing a windfarm at the same site.
But residents of Thornhill and neighbouring Closeburn have voiced concerns
and claim it would be devastating to the landscape and are reluctant to
support the idea of a new windfarm in the region.
Mike Steele, acting chairman of Closeburn Community Council, said: “It is
likely that the community council will oppose the plans for a test mast in
our neighbouring community Thornhill.
“The reason for this is because it is in the middle of a scenic area and
from a tourist point of view it would be a disaster.
“The economy in this area relies on maintaining the countryside and
scenery, therefore we will oppose at this stage.
“And if it goes ahead then we will join together with other communities to
fight it.”
A spokesperson for EDF Energy Renewables said: “We have submitted a
planning application to the council to install a temporary wind monitoring
mast on a site at Auchinleck Hill in Upper Nithsdale, to the north east of
Thornhill.
“If approval for the meteorological mast is granted, it will be used as
part of early stage investigations to collect wind data to help us
determine if the site might be suitable for a windfarm development. The
mast is a lightweight structure with a height of 90 metres and incorporates
seven anemometers to help measure wind speeds.
“We are still some way from taking any decisions on the development
potential of the Auchinleck Hill site, and the information gathered on the
local wind resource will help us to determine if other feasibility studies
are to be progressed over the coming years.
“If any future decision is taken to seek planning consent for a wind farm,
we would engage fully with local communities and stakeholders at that time
to seek their views as part of a formal public consultation process prior
to any application being made.”
Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell said: “My position on windfarms across my
constituency is very clear; enough is enough.
“This area has taken more than it’s fair share of windfarm developments
over the years and I wouldn’t want to see any further large scale developments.
“With the community firmly opposed to any plans, I will be happy to stand
with community councils in their opposition to any planned developments and
I would urge EDF energy to re-think their plans.”
The closing date for objections to the proposal is November 1.
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