By Kathryn Wylie
A controversial bid to build a wind farm near Bonchester Bridge is being
recommended for approval by planners next week.
More than 60 objections have been lodged against plans to erect the
12-turbine Pines Burn wind farm development on the Harlow Estate, but
Scottish Borders Council planning officers are recommending it is shown the
green light by the authority’s planning and building standards committee on
Monday.
Leeds-based EnergieKontor UK’s proposals for a dozen turbines, seven of
them 149.9m tall and the other five 20m shorter, have split opinion since
they were unveiled last year.
They have sparked 60 letters of objection and 52 in support, but Hobkirk,
Jed Valley, Denholm, Hawick, Upper Teviotdale and Borthwick Water,
Newcastleton and Southdean community councils have been unanimous in their
opposition.
EnergieKontor held two rounds of public exhibitions, in July and November
last year, before submitting a revised application, including a reduction
in height of seven of the proposed turbines and the repositioning of three,
in January this year.
However, Philip Kerr, chairman of both Southdean Community Council and
Chesters Wind Farm Action Group, still has reservations about the scheme.
He says the recommendation to approve it has caused consternation among
objectors concerned about the height of the turbines and their visual impact.
However, stakeholders and supporters backing the proposals have welcomed
the potential they offer for job creation and boosting the local economy.
EnergieKontor says it would run a local procurement policy, giving
preference to companies that employ local people and source materials
within the Borders.
The firm has also committed to a £1.2m funding programme with the Borders
Further Education Trust, and if the project gets the go-ahead, the trust
will receive £50,000 annually over the 25-year lifetime of the wind farm.
Project manager Duncan Taylor said: “We are really looking forward to
bringing our funding programmes forward should Pines Burn receive approval
at committee.
“These programmes, along with our procurement policy, will help to boost
the Scottish Borders’ economy by creating work opportunities and jobs for
local people.
“The decision to recommend approval not only reflects the planning
compliance of the application but also recognises the project’s important
contribution to the regional economy, as well as the local support for the
project.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community, who have
constructively engaged with us throughout the application process, allowing
us to propose a project that will deliver significant benefits.”
Chief planning officer Ian Aikman’s report states: “The construction phase
would last for 12 to 18 months, and the development would have a 25-year
operational phase.
“The wind farm would provide 36mw of installed capacity. It is accepted
that the proposal would make a moderate contribution towards energy targets.”
He concludes: “It is considered that the detrimental impacts of the
proposal are not so significant as to warrant refusal.”
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