A wind farm which Mountaineering Scotland claimed would form a “ring of
steel” around a Galloway hill has been rejected.
Dumfries and Galloway Council refused the 10-turbine project in August 2017.
Developers then appealed to the Scottish government over the Longburn
scheme near Cairnsmore of Carsphairn.
A reporter has now concluded that while it would have economic benefits
they did not outweigh the adverse effect on the landscape.
Mountaineering Scotland – formerly known as the Mountaineering Council of
Scotland – raised its objection to the project in July 2016.
‘Close the circle’
It claimed the turbines – combined with other wind farms already in the
area – would “close the circle” around the peak in the south of Scotland.
Councillors subsequently rejected the proposals and an appeal was then
taken to the Scottish government.
Developers argued that the project would help meet renewable energy targets
and make a significant contribution to the local economy.
They also said they had already halved the number of turbines proposed and
increased their distance from the Southern Upland way.
However, a reporter concluded the wind farm should not be allowed to go ahead.
She said the potential economic benefits were not enough to set aside the
adverse environmental effects on the landscape and historic environment.
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