Wind farm plans are gust not on
PLANS for a four-turbine wind farm on land next to the A75 at Glenluce have been thrown out by councillors.
Wigtown Area Committee this week refused permission for Barlockhart Moor Wind Energy Ltd to construct their planned 152-metre high windmills after it was agreed the development would have a detrimental impact on the landscape.
The plans would have been the seventh wind farm in the south-west of Scotland to be built or to go through planning stages.
Robert Rankin, of Whitecairn Caravan Park, near Glenluce, said he didn't object to renewable energy but felt such turbines should be placed off the tourist trail.
He said: "It always sounds better when we put measurements into metres because it reduces them, but actually we are talking about 364ft turbines here which will stand well above the horizon.
"I think it is only now hitting home to locals who are looking at the North Rhins farm and seeing how much bigger it is than they expected.
"I think noise from the turbines would hurtle down the valley to the village and residents wouldn't know about it until they were up and it was too late."
Gibson Siwo, who farms at Barlockhart Moor, said he has faced many struggles over the year and has been forced to open his mind to such proposals.
He said: "I have recognised that in order to ensure survival of my business I have to welcome ventures like this."
Councillor Graham Nicol said he was shocked to see the scale of the turbines going up between Stranraer and Portpatrick and that, from manipulated photo images, people don't get a "flavour of the bulk" of the turbines.
Cllr Grahame Forster said: "It's a shame we can't turn back the clock and determine the North Rhins farm today."
Cllr Iain Dick moved to approve the proposals but was alone and the committee refused to grant permission.
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Weather for Newton Stewart
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
