Scotsman letters
I wish to protest in the strongest possible terms about the wanton destruction of hedgerows and verges along the A714 between Bargrennan and Newton Stewart. I appreciate that both South Ayrshire Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council have given planning permission for the extensions to Killgallioch and Arecleoch wind power stations. However, I do not believe that ether council anticipated the appalling damage visited upon the sides of the road. If it was necessary to widen the road to accommodate giant turbines it could have been done sympathetically by proper tree surgeons to ensure the minimum long-term damage to ancient woodland and what used to be a pleasant drive along the side of the River Cree.
Instead, a flail mower hacked through everything in its path, leaving devastation in its wake. Nesting birds and other wildlife (in the height of the breeding season) stand no chance of survival. All this in the name of saving the planet or, much more likely, making a huge profit.
Christopher H Shaw Glentrool Forest, South Ayrshire
1 Comment
YorkshireLass · August 2, 2025 at 11:08 am
I completely agree with Christopher Shaw’s letter. The destruction along the A714 is not just careless, it’s calculated. There was no urgency: the extensions to Killgallioch and Arecleoch were approved years ago. That left ample time to plan with care. And yet, instead of tree surgeons and ecological sensitivity, we got flail mowers and devastation during peak nesting season.
Let’s be honest, this wasn’t about logistics. It was about profit margins. Proper conservation costs money, and it’s clear that every hedge, verge, and ancient woodland felled was sacrificed for expediency. When turbines generate revenue even while switched off, up to £1 million per year each, it’s easy to see what drives these decisions. Environmentalism, as a label, has been hijacked; the planet gets the slogans while the countryside absorbs the scars.