A copy of the Scoping Report is available on request please email us for a copy.

 

26/09/08

Peebleshire News

Controversial wind farm plans receive major boost
By David O'Leary


Plans for a controversial wind farm at the entrance to the Borders have been given a major boost. Approval has been given to erect a 60m high meteorological mast visible from the A703 at land South East of Craigburn Cottage, Leadburn.

This mast will serve to monitor wind speeds and wind directions as part of a wind monitoring exercise for a proposed wind farm at Spurlens Rig.

Permission for the mast, which has garnered 32 letters of objection from local residents, was granted for a period of three years. The main points of objection were that the structure would alter the rural landscape of the area and that it would have a detrimental effect on agriculture and road safety. Also, many believed that the mast would detract from views of the Moorfoot Hills in a highly visible position for people leaving or entering the Borders.

Only recently Midlothian Council rejected proposals for a similar wind farm application three miles away at Auchencorth.


Local resident, Celia Hobbs said: " It would be sheer madness to have a sign welcoming people to the Borders with a backdrop of 125 m high industrial machines. "Wind farms should be sited where they do not destroy views to and from areas of great landscape value - the Pentlands and Moorfoorts are such areas."


Another local resident, Bruce Young echoed this. He said: "This mast is a ludicrous height and provides neither amenity nor other benefit to an attractive rural area."

Councillors at the meeting were however reminded that they were being asked to determine the current application for the temporary mast only and that they should not allow the proposed wind farm application to prejudice their decision.

 

06/09/08

apeal will be handing out information at the Howgate Country Fair on Saturday 6th September from 10am-2pm.We will be also collecting contact info from people who want to help out or be kept informed regarding then Wind Turbine development.

 

25/08/08

Arcus who are working on behalf of Lomond Energy, the Turbine Site Developer, have installed a number of Sound Pressure Meters (SPM's) to record the background noise levels at locations around the site. Initially these were both fewer and different to the ones set out in their Scoping Report. After pressure from apeal Arcus and Lomond relented and installed the SPM's where they had previously promised.

Stop Press!

According to Arcus they have extended their testing period as the site has been too quiet!

 

08/08/08

A Planning Application has been submitted for a 60m monitoring mast on the site. Apeal urged people to object to this, the precursor of the Turbine application itself. There was a large number of objections to the application all viewable at the Scottish Borders Councils Public Access Planning website.

We are anxiously awaiting the council's decision.

 

01/06/08

Lomond Energy suggested that apeal members visit Black Law wind farm in order to see for themselves the scale of the Turbines. Do we need really need to explain how this makes them feel?