Opposition to the Girthgate giants 1 Apr 2014 PLANNERS are blowing against attempts to site giant turbines on land between Stow and Lauder. An application for a 24-turbine windfarm at Girthgate is currently being considered by the Scottish Government. And next week members of Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee will be urged to table an objection as part of the consultation process. Muirhall Energy’s plans for the mainly 132-metre high structures has met widespread opposition already from the Ministry of Defence, Scottish Natural Heritage and the local community council in Stow. The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and the Forestry Commission have also expressed concerns over parts of the application. Members of the local authority’s planning committee will discuss the plans on Monday. Chief planning officer John Hiscox is urging them to take his department’s lead and fight the bid. He stated: “There are clear benefits from the potential production of 81.6MW of electricity. This would make a sizeable contribution to the delivery of sustainable renewable energy development. “However, in planning terms that is perhaps the only significant positive attribute of the scheme.” Mr Hicox’s report highlights many problems with the planned windfarm, which would cover a 802 hectare site, including the cumulative effects when viewed with neighbouring windfarms, the proximity to Lauder (3 kilometres) and Stow (2.5 kilometres), and the noise nuisance for nearby residents. There are already several windfarm developments, either completed or going through the planning process, for the landscape between Stow and Lauder. An appeal decision is pending on plans for 23 125-metre high turbines at neighbouring Rowantree, there are 12 operating turbines at Toddleburn, which sits three miles from Girthgate, the nine-turbine Shawpark windfarm, just 300 metres from the Girthgate site, is currently under appeal, and the 19-turbine Longpark windfarm is already operational two miles further south. Mr Hilcox added: “The ambition to utilise mainly 132-metre tip-height turbines makes them clearly the tallest of all those under consideration or approved and constructed in this part of the Borders. “The effects of the windfarm on the landscape character of Lauder Common would be to dominate. It would constitute the most prominent component of within it when viewed from distance, and would be particularly apparent when compared to other windfarms that are more modest or which occupy more logical sites with better containment.” The Girthgate is a well-known walking and cycling route which passes directly through the planned site. Despite the majority of consultees opposing the plans, Oxton and Channelkirk Community Council have voiced their support. Members of Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee will be asked to approve a two-pronged objection on grounds of Impact on the Landscape Character and Adverse Visual and Amenity Impacts. - See more at: bordertelegraph/news/roundup/articles/2014/04/01/493208-opposition-to-the-girthgate-giants/#sthash.tzG0ymg4.dpuf
Posted on: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:02:30 +0000
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