Two Dumfriesshire politicians are “strongly opposed” to the controversial proposed Scoop Hill windfarm development.
MP David Mundell and his MSP son Oliver spoke out as they visited an exhibition on Saturday which was staged by the campaign group, Save Our Hills Moffat, to highlight “the ramifications” of the proposed 75-turbine scheme.
It is being described as “the highest in Scotland” and the turbines would be visible from Moffat, Beattock, Lockerbie, Lochmaben and the M74.
Developers Community Windpower Limited are planning to erect 22 turbines with a maximum tip height of up to 250m; two at 225m, 47 at 200m and four at 180m – making them all bigger than Blackpool Tower which stands 158m tall.
Mr Mundell Snr said: “The proposed development would see the building of the tallest wind turbines in the UK, ranging from 180m to 250m in height, and would have a significant and very damaging effect on the character of the surrounding area.
“It’s true that the proposed windfarm could make a contribution to the local economy and there’s also the prospect of ongoing community benefit payments, but at the end of the day the damage to the natural heritage of the area is just too great to justify allowing the development to go ahead.
“There are already a thousand wind turbines across Annandale and, in the interests of the local landscape and protecting the area’s amenity for residents and visitors, we do not need another 75 large turbines built on Moffat’s doorstep.
“That’s why I’m opposing the Scoop Hill development.”
Moffat and District Community Council is holding its own public consultation on the proposed windfarm and wants responses from the public by the end of tomorrow to give members time to meet the statutory consultation deadline at the end of August.
They have set up an online site at https://mdcc.scot/virtual-exhibition/ and it includes a feedback form.
The community council has also distributed 1,500 leaflets through letterboxes around the community which contain a feedback form to record householders’ views and need to be returned to a ballot box in the Town Hall. Additional leaflets can be obtained from AM Grieves Newsagents.
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