The Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton SNP Branch has recently been in contact with us to confirm their support, and that of the wider local party, for Save Straiton for Scotland and our opposition to the proliferation of industrial wind power developments in the area. Their correspondence reads…

Our SNP Branch meeting took place in Maybole last Monday. Our Branch members were in full agreement that we objected completely to the Back Fell Wind Farm proposal near Straiton.

We continue to believe Green Energy and Net Zero are vital strategies to reduce the impact of global warming. However, we believe that in North Carrick ‘enough is enough’ describes our views about recent wind farm proposals. We will continue to object to wind farms on a case-by-case basis and especially on the grounds of cumulative effect in parts of South and East Ayrshire. We also sought support from our SNP elected representatives at local, Scottish and UK Government levels and all our local representatives support our objections.

We thank the group for letting us know and their support.

https://www.facebook.com/events/939441347570880

If you haven’t already, please help us by objecting to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consent Unit (ECU) on the proposed Sclenteuch Wind Farm.

RES who applied to build the Keirs Hill wind farm which was turned down in 2016 on landscape and residential amenity grounds following a public enquiry, have applied to build a further wind farm on Keirs Hill with some turbines coming closer to Straiton.  The scheme was assessed to have a very serious visual impact based on 149.9m height of the turbines. The current proposal for Sclenteuch is for 6 x 200m and 3 x 180m turbines and hence even worse than the previously refused scheme.  Despite this, both East Ayrshire Council and South Ayrshire Council have now submitted their reports to the ECU with neither council objecting to the scheme. The turbines, in the forests directly opposite to the Dersalloch wind farm, would be seen from Straiton and the roads leading into the village, and similarly for our friends in Patna and Waterside. The East Ayrshire Council report can be found here, while the South Ayrshire Council report can be found here.

In addition to the apparent U-turn on the scheme’s acceptability, contradictions on a range of other issues, and from a variety of consultees, are present in the councils’ reports;

East Ayrshire Planning Report

• NatureScot advise that the proposed development would result in significant day time and night time impacts on the Wild Land Qualities of the Merrick Wild Land Area, significant effects of turbine lighting and other significant landscape and visual effects.
• When assessed against National Planning Framework 4, the Council found the scheme to have significant adverse impacts on Local Landscape Areas and Sensitive Landscape Areas and significant landscape effects to parts of the Doon Valley LLA/SLA north of Dalmellington.
• In terms of the residential visual amenity impacts there will be significant adverse impacts resulting from the scheme, including through the impacts extending into the hours of darkness with the visible aviation lighting over and above the daytime impacts.
• Significant adverse impacts on public access, long distance walking and cycling routes and scenic routes.
• National Air Traffic Control and Glasgow Prestwich Airport both object to the proposal

Despite these areas of significant impact and objections, East Ayrshire Council has not objected to the scheme.

South Ayrshire Council Planning Report

• The proposal has the potential to have some adverse effects on the road network with an increase in vehicles including HGVs during the temporary construction phase.
• The windfarm has the potential to have some limited adverse effects on the setting of Straiton which is a historic settlement with a Conservation Area and a large number of Listed Buildings. The greatest impact would be from the wind farms elevated position which would see it sit above the settlement in views from the west. This has the potential for an adverse effect in some views where the settlement can be seen in combination with the wind farm.
• Significant effects are likely in terms of residential visual amenity on properties within Gass.
• There is the potential for significant adverse effects on the landscape from this development given its scale and height of turbines.
• The proposed development would have some significant adverse effects on the Carrick Hills Local Landscape Area
• National Air Traffic Control and Glasgow Prestwich Airport both object to the proposal
• The Council’s landscape consultant concludes that there would be significant adverse effects on residential properties centred on Gass Farm where the addition of the proposed development to a baseline which includes the existing Dersalloch wind farm would be likely to result in an overwhelming effect, as well as significant adverse effects on the special qualities and character of the High Carrick Hills LLA, notably on the sense of wildness associated with this landscape and affecting views from popular hill summits.
• The Proposed Development would result in significant adverse effects on the eastern part of the Middle Dale LCT (the Girvan valley) where the very large turbines of the proposal would form a prominent feature seen on low skylines on the edges of Sclenteuch and Cloncaird Moors

Despite these areas of significant impact and objections, South Ayrshire Council has not objected to the scheme.

Save Straiton for Scotland has lodged an objection to the Energy Consents Unit and we would urge you to object to the proposal due to the adverse impacts resulting from this development.  It is not too late to object to this proposal.  Objections can be made to the ECU by email to Econsents_Admin@gov.scot quoting the reference number ECU00003318 and the title Sclenteuch Wind Farm.  Your objection should be signed off with your name and address.

You could cut and paste the following if it would make it easier:

Sclenteuch Wind Farm Reference ECU00003318

I am writing to lodge my objection to the proposed Sclenteuch industrial wind power station for 6 x 200m and 3 x 180m turbines which would have a damaging effect on the villages of Straiton, Patna and Waterside. Please therefore take this email as an objection to the proposal.

Add your name and address before signing off.

Alternatively, you could prepare your own objection perhaps based on the SSfS’s objection which might include the following:

Landscape and Visual

The reporter for the Keirs Hill PLI concluded in 2016 that “there would be seriously adverse landscape impacts because of the height of the proposed turbines in relation to the scale of the landform on which the site is located. This would be particularly damaging when seen from the Doon Valley and the hills to the south. There would be serious visual impacts for properties at Waterside and the immediate surrounding area, and for parts of Patna. This would be because of the height and proximity of the turbines.”

This application was for turbines of 149m and turbines of 180m and 200m would extend the landscape impact on Patna and Waterside to Straiton.  It would be concluded that this impact would still exist but affecting the wider community.

For turbines of this size aviation lighting would be required at night which is going to impact on the Dark Sky Park.  The lighting would therefore constitute a threat to the designation of the DSP due to light pollution but the lighting would impact on the landscape at night with the possibility of flickering and the blades pass the lights on the towers.

Cultural Heritage

In 2016 the reporter for the Keirs Hill PLI concluded that “there would be adverse impacts on the historic estate at Waterside. This would be because of the proximity and height of the turbines which would have an adverse impact on the setting of scheduled monuments, listed buildings and the conservation area”.  This would remain as an adverse impact on the cultural heritage of the Doon Valley but extended to the cultural setting of Straiton.

Ecology

The applicant has assessed the size of the proposal as being medium as it consists of fewer than 10 wind turbines (small project size) and has one other operational wind development within 5 km (medium size).  It is not clear of the relevance of this assessment and it would seem to imply that the impact is somehow reduced.  While the number of turbines at 9 is below 10 the impact of 200m turbines could be considerable and significant.  200m turbines could have a swept area of over 17,000 square meters or 1.7ha.  9 turbines would therefore present a significant obstacle for bats and birds.

The applicant has noted that there were failures in the recording equipment for bats and that there were suboptimal conditions for bat activity during the survey.  This would lead to questioning the thoroughness of the survey.

Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology

The applicant states that the layout of the proposed development has been altered to take into account areas of deep peat but as this area contains extensive areas of deep peat they could be difficult to avoid.

Some turbines are adjacent to the Lochhead Burn and areas of deep peat.  The construction of the turbine bases and the connecting roads have the potential to impact on these areas of deep peat.  Being adjacent to a water course feeding into the Lochhead Burn there is the risk of pollution to these burns and Loch Spallander.

Traffic & Transport

It is considered that the impact from the construction of the wind farm on the communities of Patna, Waterside, Dalmellington and Straiton will create at least a nuisance.   Further it is considered that the level of detail submitted in support of the application in terms of cumulative impact from other windfarm schemes which may be consented is insufficient for a full assessment to be made.

Assessment of Need

South Ayrshire Council’s supplementary submission on energy and planning policy in relation to the recent Clauchrie Wind Farm application set out why additional provision is not required and stated that: 

“While the Scottish Ministers are setting an ambition for an additional 8-12GW of onshore wind capacity by 2030 it is clear that this can be met by the existing pipeline of consented developments (5GW), with extensions to current consented sites (1.3GW) and by repowering older end of life developments (5GW). Kilgallioch and Arecleoch extensions have been approved since this statement was made. There is therefore no need for additional consents on new virgin site to meet the ambition.” 

In summary, there is evidence that demonstrates that additional onshore wind provision as would be provided by the proposed windfarm development at Sclenteuch is not required.  The failings of the current windfarm economic case demonstrates that additional onshore wind provision will lead to further, unsustainable costs for consumers, while the wind farm operators are receiving substantial constraint payments.

Socio Economics and Tourism

The developer is dismissive of the effect that windfarms have on tourism, not taking into account why visitors choose some areas over others. VisitScotland has said that tourism is crucial to Scotland’s economic and cultural well-being. It sustains a great diversity of businesses throughout the country. According to a recent independent report by Deloitte, tourism generates £11 billion for the economy and employs over 200,000 – 9% of the Scottish workforce. Tourism provides jobs in the private sector and stimulates the regeneration of urban and rural areas. One of the Scottish Government and VisitScotland’s key ambitions is to grow tourism revenues and make Scotland one of the world’s foremost tourist destinations.

In July 2016 the reporter for the Keirs Hill Enquiry concluded – “Impacts on tourism and recreation are difficult to be precise about and there is no confirmed evidence as to wind farms deterring tourists from visiting areas where they are located. Despite this the local economy is fragile and communities in the Doon Valley are trying to promote tourist based growth following the loss of the coal industry. Any small loss of income could have a significant adverse impact on the local economy.”  The same would apply in the Straiton locality which similarly derives much of the local income from tourism.

Many thanks for your continued support.

A BIG THANK YOU to all those who attended the developer’s ‘public exhibition’ on Tuesday. It was great to see so many of you showing your opposition to the scheme. The numbers attending took the developer by surprise, with a member of their team saying it was the largest turnout they had seen.

If you haven’t already, or were unable to attend, please complete the developer’s questionnaire at https://backfellinfo.co.uk/community/questionnaire/ and don’t hold back! Details of the scheme can also be found on the developer’s website.

Just a reminder that the developer is holding a Public exhibition this afternoon at the McCandlish Hall. We are urging all who can attend to do so at 5pm to demonstrate opposition to the scheme which would be a further blight on the village.

Last autumn we let you know about a scoping report that had been submitted to the Scottish Government for a wind power plant development at Back Fell (Glenalla forest / Dalmorton forest) with the proposal being 14 x 200m turbines.

The developer is progressing plans for the scheme and will be holding their first public exhibition on Tuesday 5th March 2024, details below,

10.00 – 14.00 – Crosshill Community Centre, 34 Kirkmichael Road, Crosshill, KA19 7RJ

15.00 – 19.00 – McCandlish Hall, Main St, Straiton, KA19 7NF

They say that the exhibition will give the E Power team the opportunity to introduce the project to residents and to answer any questions they may have.  All the exhibition materials will be available online at the project website, https://backfellinfo.co.uk/, from 5th March with a feedback form for residents who are unable to attend the exhibition. Shame that they are not making this information available ahead of the event – so much for openness and transparency!

We urge you to attend to the Straiton session on Tuesday 5^th March at 17:00 to make clear the community objection and concern over the proposed development.

As a reminder, this is on the old Knockskae site in Glenalla forest but takes in Dalmorton forest with the proposal being 14 x 200m turbines. The applicant states that the village of Straiton will be approximately 900m from the site which is much nearer than any of the 3 schemes that are currently the subject of a public inquiry. The nearest turbines will be approximately 1km from Knockskae, Little Garroch, Balbeg, Dyke, and Knockgardner, and the application area bounds with the Straiton, Dyke and Knockgarder road. Copies of the Scoping Report and the proposed site layout can be downloaded from https://www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationDetails.aspx?cr=ECU00004830 while the map below shows the application site boundary.

The three schemes that are currently the subject of a public inquiry are; Knockcronal by Statkraft for 9 x 200m turbines, Carrick by Scottish Power Renewables for 17 x 200m turbines and Craiginmoddie by Energiekontor for 18 x 200m turbines. In addition, the Sclenteuch wind farm proposal is also currently being considered which will be in the forests to the west of the Dersalloch wind farm and will consist of 9 x 200m turbines. All of these schemes will have significant impacts on the Girvan Valley, Straiton, surrounding communities and the wider landscape of South West Scotland which is already dominated by wind farms both operational and in the planning process.

The main issues of concern are:

• 200m turbines on high ground will have a significant impact on the landscape. The South Ayrshire Wind Capacity Study in 2018 recommended that turbines over 130m could not be accommodated in this landscape.
• Schemes are very close to Wild Land areas and will impact significantly on the setting of the wild land designation by introducing man made and moving features in the landscape.
• Residences in the local villages will have dominating views of turbines from multiple schemes.
• All wind farms are close to residences and the potential for noise and shadow flicker leading to a deterioration of the enjoyment of properties and potential health impacts.
• These wind farms cannot be considered in isolation as there are others in the application stage which will contribute to the adverse impacts on communities.

The only way we can fight this new proposal is by making ourselves heard and seen. Your attendance at the Straiton session on the 5^th March is vital.

Please forward this post to anyone you know so we can maximise turnout and demonstrate to the developer that this shameless development cannot be allowed to proceed.

This from Bloomberg (01/02/24) highlighting the practice of wind power companies overstating how much power they will generate.

UK Regulator probes wind power overstatement. The probe followed a report that many wind farms have saddled consumers with millions in extra costs by overestimating the energy they planned to generate. The UK energy regulator Ofgem is investigating the behaviour of wind farms that have been overstating how much power they will produce. The probe follows a Bloomberg News report earlier Thursday which found that dozens of wind farms, many run by some of Europe’s largest energy companies, have saddled consumers with millions in extra costs by routinely overestimating the energy they planned to generate. “Ofgem’s wholesale markets oversight team are investigating the alleged behaviour,” a spokesman said in an emailed statement, adding that the regulator had also asked National Grid Plc’s network operator to look into the matter. Bloomberg analysed 30 million records from 2018 through to June 2023 to compare wind operators’ daily forecasts of the energy they planned to generate to their actual production when they weren’t curtailed. Out of 121 wind farms in the analysis, 40 overstated their output by 10% or more on average, and 27 of those overestimated by at least 20%.

What this seems to mean is that, by overstating what they might have produced had they not been constrained wind power stations get more from the constraint payments. Is there anything about big wind that isn’t crooked?

This recent correspondence from a friend of Save Straiton relating to the proposed Scottish Power Renewables solar, hydrogen and battery energy storage scheme at Whitelee wind farm on the East Ayrshire / East Renfrewshire border. Details of the scheme can be found at https://www.scottishpowerrenewables.com/pages/whitelee_solar_hydrogen_bess_.aspx

I’ve spent the last few weeks objecting to Scottish Power Renewable’s (SPR) latest project, siting 62,000 solar panels and a hydrogen factory on deep peat at Whitelee, East Ayrshire. Of course, you don’t have to be particularly bright to realise that living peat, as a plant, requires light and rain, neither of which are easily to be found shaded by a solar panel. Dead or disturbed peat gives up its carbon stores. Add to that the ‘oxygen’ rich environment produced by 80 tons of by product oxygen from the hydrogen production, which will be vented to the atmosphere (oxygen suppresses photosynthesis) and you have a perfect antidote to those who thought that after turbines, hydrogen was going to save Scotland (and the world of course).

It is, of course, all about money – SPR have been awarded a contract subsidy by the UK Government. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hydrogen-production-business-model-net-zero-hydrogen-fund-shortlisted-projects/hydrogen-production-business-model-net-zero-hydrogen-fund-har1-successful-projects

So, to hell with Scotland, to hell with the peat that might be helpful to mitigate climate change and of course to hell with any natives within 1km who might get blown up if 10 tons of hydrogen goes bang. ….It’s OK though, because the mitigation for the hazard impact/risk is that only four workers and 4 HGV drivers will be on site at any one time and because there are no harmful residues if hydrogen ignites!!! ( As stated in the EIA)

The first from BBC Northern Ireland where a wind power scheme is being recommended for refusal with the Department for Infrastructure stating that the “economic and environmental benefits” had been outweighed by “the significant harm that would be caused to the landscape” and the “ecological impacts” on protected species”.

The second, from Nation Cymru, where a council has produced an assessment detailing several potential negative impacts of a proposed wind power plant, from potential noise issues impacting nearby residents and the visual impact of the turbines.

Although not in Scotland, these show that some authorities are waking up the harmful impact of such schemes.

Wind Farm Application In County Antrim Recommended For Refusal

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-67936199

A planning application for a “regionally significant” wind farm should be refused, the Department for Infrastructure has said. The notice of opinion to refuse was issued on Tuesday.

Renewable energy firm RES wanted 14 turbines on Unshinagh mountain, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Antrim Coast and Glens.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council previously expressed concern about the impact on tourism.

Northern Ireland has a legally-binding target of generating 80% of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030.

A statement said “due cognisance” had been given to “the contribution that renewable energy can make to both the economy and tackling climate change”.

But it added that the “economic and environmental benefits” had been outweighed by “the significant harm that would be caused to the landscape” and the “ecological impacts” on protected species”.

RES had said the wind farm would be capable of generating enough power to supply 70,000 homes, as well as creating £24.7m in jobs and investment.

Jennifer McCorry, the firm’s senior development project manager, said it was extremely disappointed by the decision.

She said that for Northern Ireland the project would help Northern Ireland to meet renewable energy targets and create up to £5m worth of wages in the 12-month construction period.

Report Details Negative Impacts of Mountain Windfarm Plans

nation.cymru/news/report-details-negative-impacts-of-mountain-windfarm-plans/

One of two councils straddled by a windfarm planned for a mountain site, has produced an assessment detailing several potential negative impacts of the proposals.

A wind farm planned for a mountain and which would stretch across two Gwent boroughs could have a number of potential negative impacts, an assessment has found.

An examination of plans for an eight-turbine development at Mynydd Llanhilleth by Torfaen Borough Council’s planning department has identified up to eight potential negative impacts should it go ahead.

They range from potential noise issues impacting nearby residents and the visual impact of the turbines – that would measure up to 180 metres to the tip of their blades – to the possibility upgraded access routes at Llanhilleth Common could encourage more off road vehicles to use the area.

The report also highlights that the proposed wind farm is just one of a number planned for the Torfaen and Blaeanau Gwent areas and states: “The cumulative effect of other wind farm developments that have been approved or may come forward in the near future raises concerns.”

Members of Torfaen’s planning committee will be presented with the report when they meet, at the Civic Centre in Pontypool, on Wednesday, January 10 to consider the application for the Llanhilleth wind farm that has been made by the Pennant Walters firm.

It’s claimed construction, which could start in 2025 and last for 22 months, would create hundreds of jobs, though there would only be four permanent full-time maintenance positions when the wind farm, which would be south east of Abertillery and east of Llanhilleth, is operational.

However councillors aren’t able to decide the application – which is intended to generate 34 megawatts of electricity which is enough to power 21,500 homes – as it is considered a development of national significance.

As a result the application will be examined by independent inspectors Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) which will complie a report and make a recommendation for a Welsh Government minister on whether they should approve or reject the application.

Only one of the turbines is planned for an area the Welsh Government has already assessed as suitable for wind turbines, with the others to be sited north and east of that boundary.

Local impact report

Torfaen must produce its local impact report, for PEDW, by January 17 setting out, based on factual information, what the council considers the likely impacts will be.

Those include the concerns related to views of the upland areas of Torfaen and Blaeanau Gwent with other wind farms proposed at Mynydd Maen and Trecelyn, Mynydd Carn y Cefn and Manmoel.

That could “alter the landscape characteristic of open unbroken skylines along valley ridges” according to the council, which is also concerned at a “proliferation of turbines” in what the Gwent councils have designated the Eastern Uplands and Western Uplands Special Landscape Areas.

Torfaen said the “overall cumulative impact” would be negative and that the Llanhilleth wind farm would “have a negative, albeit reversible visual impact, on two of the eight” Special Landscape Areas within the Torfaen”.

Mitigations have been suggested by the developer, but the council has said it hasn’t yet had enough information so it “must conclude that there would be an adverse impact”. It also hasn’t had enough information to assess the impact on protected species so has concluded the ecological impact is likely to be “negative, at best, neutral”.

The applicant’s environmental impact assessment has identified 20 properties that would be affected by noise. The noise would be above the acceptable limit at six properties during the daytime, but only one at night.

Unclear

However, Torfaen has said while the applicant has proposed a condition to reduce noise to acceptable levels it is unclear if this could be achieved, including that people could use their gardens.

The council is satisfied with how it is planned to deal with shadow flicker from the turbine blades.

The other negative impacts identified are the potential that the nearby Tirpentwys Quarry wouldn’t be able to be brought back into use, should plans come forward, and the issue of off-road vehicles using the improved tracks, though the council acknowledges there is “no objective evidence” to support the theory.

The council has also accepted the environmental impact statement’s assessment that the wind farm would not have an adverse effect upon the outstanding universal value of the Blaenavon World Heritage Site.

The application also covers a proposed substation and underground power cables and grid connection and associated construction infrastructure.

18 x 200m Turbines Located between Barr and Pinwherry, South Ayrshire

Email: econsents_admin@gov.scot

Ref: Knockodhar Wind Farm ECU00002153

Knockodhar is to be considered by South Ayrshire Council at a meeting on 1^st February 2024. This application if approved will fill in the gap between Hadyard Hill (52 turbines) and Markhill (30 odd) which is north of Arecleoch and Kilgallioch (some 140). While this is outside of the remit of Save Straiton please object as it is another application which are coming thick and fast in the area and all over Scotland. Please send an objection to the members of the council indicating the strength of opposition to further wind farm development in this area. If you cannot object, then please take note that this is yet another application for an industrial power plant in the area. The current council members for the immediate area are:

Martin Dowey martin.dowey@south-ayrshire.gov.uk leader of the Council

Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton

Councillor Iain Campbell (Conservative) iain.campbell@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

Councillor Brian Connolly (Independent) brian.connolly@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

Councillor William Grant (SNP) william.grant@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

Girvan and South Carrick

Councillor Alec Clark (Independent) Alec.Clark@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

Councillor Gavin Scott (Conservative) Gavin.Scott@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

Councillor Alan Lamont (Conservative alan.lamont@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

A simple email stating that there are already far too many wind farms in South Ayrshire and you hope the council will reject this application should suffice. Or you can use the following as an objection simply cut and paste or amend as appropriate and email to econsents_admin@gov.scot

Ref: Knockodhar Wind Farm ECU00002153

I understand that the Council is to consider this application on 1^st February, and I would urge the council to strongly object to this application for the following reasons.

• The development will have a significant and detrimental effect on the landscape in the area of Pinwherry, Barr and Colmonell and the Landscape Character Types designated by South Ayrshire Council LCT 18c and LCT 13 in this area.
• In conjunction with other existing wind farms, it will have a significant and detrimental effect on views from recreational routes in the area as well as the A714 and the B734 with potential to further damage the Merrick Wild Land area. Clauchrie was turned down by the Scottish Government because it was felt to unduly spoil the enjoyment of people visiting The Merrick in the same way that Carrick, Knockcronal and Craiginmoddie, Blair Hill and the others nearer to Newton Stewart would do also. Knockodhar adjacent to the Clauchrie site has the same effect.
• There are now twenty-one wind farms within 20 km of the proposed development comprising over 430 turbines in total, this is too much of an intrusion into the peace and quiet of the area. South Scotland has 5% if the country’s population and already more than 20% of Scottish turbines. It is already capable of producing many time the electricity which will ever be consumed in the area.
• Access to the proposed Development will be from the small village of Pinwherry on the A714, a winding road, wholly unsuitable for heavy construction traffic. The construction traffic, over 100 HGV movements a day, coupled with the impact of other wind farms under construction will completely alter the character of the village of Pinwherry.
• Deep groundwork for turbine bases and borrow pits together with the requirements to manufacture 37,000 tonnes of concrete will significantly impact the hydrology of the area which is already subject to water problems during dry weather.
• Aviation lighting which is required on turbines over 150m will damage the dark Sky Park, the Biosphere and other important tourist attractions in the area as well as impacting on the landscape during the nighttime.
• Estimates of noise and shadow flicker are based upon out of date methodology and give misleading results. There is already a history of properties being bought up by the ‘developer’ or abandoned due to shadow flicker. The impact of noise if based on guidance drawn up by the wind power plant industry in 1997 and is in need of urgent revision.
• The development will not make a significant contribution to reduced emissions because the grid cannot accommodate the proposed output.

Name:

Address with post code:

From BBC News this week, and proof that the ‘developers’ do not always win. The scheme was refused due to its “significant” landscape and visual impact and which would “severely compromise” the special qualities of the area, as well as being “dominating and overbearing” for some nearby properties. Sounds familiar? It also shows that it is worth objecting.

A wind farm situated at what has been described as a “gateway to Scotland” has been refused.

Community Windpower wanted to build 45 turbines along the A7 corridor between Langholm and Teviothead in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.

The final decision on the Faw Side project lay with the Scottish government following a public inquiry. It has now ruled the scheme should not go ahead due to its “significant” landscape and visual impact.

There were also concerns about the effect on the nearby Eskdalemuir Seismic Array which is used to detect any vibrations caused by nuclear tests.

Both Scottish Borders Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council objected to the plans which Community Windpower said could meet the energy needs of 325,000 homes.

Of the 45 turbines which were being proposed, 13 were in the Borders with the remainder in Dumfries and Galloway.

A reporter concluded that the development would “severely compromise” the special qualities of the area.

She also found that the turbines would be “dominating and overbearing” for some nearby properties.

The reporter agreed with developers that the wind farm could have made a “valuable contribution” to meeting greenhouse gas and renewable energy targets.

However, she ruled that this did not outweigh the adverse impact of the scheme and decided the project should not proceed.

Community Windpower said the wind farm could have helped to meet national renewable energy policy objectives.

Managing director Rod Wood said: “We are obviously disappointed with this decision. However, we are taking time to review the reports and decision.“

“Nonetheless, we remain committed to Scotland’s renewable energy industry, businesses and supply chains.”

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-67883279

Below is a recent post from the Save Our Hills Facebook page which makes interesting reading and shows the smoke and mirrors approach used by windfarm developers. Hill of fare windfarm

Today we are talking about the carbon footprint of the Hill of Fare windfarm. This is the carbon emitted due to the construction of the turbines, roads, borrow pits, etc. and includes carbon losses due to peat removal and tree feeling.

Using the Scottish Government’s Carbon Calculator, RES has calculated that the carbon emitted by building the Hill of Fare windfarm amounts to some 210,637 tonnes equivalent of CO2, reducing to 192,477 after proposed enhancement of the site (specifically improving degraded bogs, felled forestry, restoration of peat from borrow pits and drainage).

This is a very large number due to the amount of pristine peat removed. We are looking into RES’ data and assumptions to make sure that this is correct, but this is not easy, so we are taking these figures at face value.

Once windfarms are in operation they deliver carbon-free electricity and displace carbon emissions which would otherwise result from energy generation by fossil fuels (usually gas). The ‘carbon payback’ time is a standard way to estimate how long the wind farm will take to offset the carbon emitted because of its construction and operation.

RES claim a ‘carbon payback’ time of 2.8 years for this windfarm, assuming the grid mix of today (44% fossil fuels) remaining constant for its 50 year lifetime.

However, the grid mix is de-carbonising rapidly as more and more windfarms are brought onstream displacing fossil fuels. We have sourced grid mix data for 2024-2029 from UK Gov Annex B: Carbon dioxide emissions by source (revised 10 March 2023), and 2030-2040 from UK Gov BERR net zero and the Power Sector Scenarios (February 2022).

These indicate a rapid decline in fossil fuels in the grid mix. The UK Dept of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BERR) states ‘overtime, low carbon generation increases. In all four scenarios, from 2035 onwards, low carbon generation makes up more than 99% of domestic generation. In 2030, low carbon generation is 90-93% of domestic generation.’

Although there is some uncertainty around these figures, the trends are clear as more and more windfarms start generating low carbon electricity.

If approved, we estimate that the Hill of Fare windfarm will start generating electricity around 2029, by which time the grid mix will be around 10% fossil fuels. By 2035 this is predicted to fall to around 1% and to remain at that level. Using these assumptions, we have modelled the Hill of Fare windfarm carbon payback period.

We conclude that it will NEVER payback the carbon generated in construction and removal of peat and trees. Overall, the windfarm is a carbon source and does not contribute to getting to net zero. The main reason for this is the removal of undegraded peat which results in a high carbon footprint.

Windfarms that involve destroying a lot of peat should never be built. The following published papers make the same conclusions:

– Smith et al., 2012, ‘Avoid constructing windfarms on peat’, https://www.nature.com/articles/489033d

– Smith et al., 2014, ‘Wind farms on undegraded peatlands are unlikely to reduce future carbon emissions’, https://www.sciencedirect.com/…/abs/pii/S0301421513010896

– Thomson et al., 2015 ‘Life cycle costs and Carbon Emissions of Onshore Wind Power’, https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/…/Main_Report_Life_Cycle…

– https://theferret.scot/wind-farms-peat-climate-pollution/

– https://www.ntu.ac.uk/…/researchers-warn-of-urgent-need…

Some recent news reports to mull over during the Festive Period!

Wind farms ‘are destroying rural communities’ – The Times 18/12/23

Massive windfarms are “turbocharging” rural depopulation in parts of Scotland and having a devastating effect on local communities, it has been claimed. Scotland Against Spin (SAS) said the advance of developments has led to dozens of properties being taken out of the national housing stock in areas where there is already a chronic shortage. It is claimed that developers buy up homes to silence those objecting to wind farms on their doorstep and include non-disclosure agreements – gagging orders as part of the deal. Scotland is on course to almost double the number of onshore turbines to more than 7500, with the number of wind farms set to increase to almost 600.

Data obtained under Freedom of Information showed there are 334 Scottish wind farms running 4273 turbines.with 29wind farms under construction setto deliver 640 turbines. There are 96 wind farm sites awaiting construction which will add another 1058 turbines.There are applications under consideration for a further 115 sites and 1555 turbines.

Graham Lang, SAS chairman, said: ‘The general pattern sees wind farm developers buy up properties where the impact of the facility will be unacceptable for various reasons and often render them derelict and or dangerous so that, if need be, permission to demolish is then easily obtained from the local authority.’

He said a number of homes had also been made potentially uninhabitable because their private water supplies have been disrupted or irreparably damaged during wind farm construction, such as during the construction of Whitelee wind farm on Eaglesham Moor near Glasgow, the biggest onshore wind farm in the UK, where the community is said to have lost four private water supplies to properties.

SAS claims developers dangle huge offers for homes standing in the path of developments that owners have little choice but to accept.

Lang said: ‘Quite often the value of homes has been massively reduced because of their close proximity to planned wind farms and would be difficult for the existing owners to find buyers.

‘Thus, when wind farm developers swoop in with an attractive offer, owners are left with little realistic option but to agree to sell or be left with a worthless property.

‘Either that or they face having to stay put and then live with all the negative downsides of being in close proximity to wind turbines, such as the impact of noise, pollution or potential loss of their only water supply, as well as flicker not just during the day but at night from aviation safeguarding lights’. When they do have to accept the operator’s offer they are made to sign an NDA and the whole murky business is swept under the carpet and democracy is stifled on a very important issue.’

Cheshire-based Community Windpower Limited (CWL), which operates eight wind farms in Scotland, with a further three consented and an additional two in development, say that buying up properties in advance of major infrastructure developments is ‘common practice’.

It confirmed it had bought properties in Scaur Glen in Dumfriesshire, where it had planned the Sanquhar 2 wind farm, before shelving the 44-turbine project, claiming the UK government’s ‘unfair’ windfall tax on renewable power plants had rendered it uneconomic.

A spokesman for CWL added: ‘In Sanquhar, we bought three properties, at objectively fair prices, from owners who were keen to sell. We are planning to use two of the properties for holiday lets, while the other will be used by our staff and their families.’

Stop Sanquhar 2 wind farm, a local campaign group which opposed the development, disputes CWL’s claims that owners in Scaur Glen were keen to sell and say they had been very settled in their ‘forever’homes until plans for the wind farm emerged.

The three historic properties were close to the Sanquhar 2 wind farm site and would have been most impacted by it, say campaigners.

A Scottish government spokesman said: ‘National planning framework 4, approved by the Scottish parliament earlier this year, is making sure the planning system enables the sustainable growth of the renewable sector while continuing to protect our most valued natural assets and cultural heritage.

‘Scotland has some of the most stringent environmental impact regulations anywhere in the world and our planning and consenting system ensures that local communities can always have their say.’

A ScottishPower Renewables spokesman said: ‘In over three decades of developing and operating 39 onshore wind farms across the UK and Ireland, we have acquired a total of six properties through voluntary land agreements with the owners.’

Wasted wind power adds £40 to household energy bills, says think tank – BBC News 19/12/23

Wasted wind power will add £40 to the average UK household’s electricity bill in 2023, according to a think tank.

That figure could increase to £150 in 2026, Carbon Tracker has estimated.

When it is very windy, the grid cannot handle the extra power generated. Wind farms are paid to switch off and gas-powered stations are paid to fire up. The cost is passed on to consumers.

Read the full article here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67494082

Tall Order – Furious locals hit out at plans to build wind turbine twice the size of the Statue of Liberty at Scots beauty spot – The Scottish Sun 18/12/23

Fuming locals have hit out at plans to build the UK’s highest wind farm at a popular beauty spot.

Plans have been lodged for 16 turbines to be built on top of Hill of Fare on the  Dunecht Estate in picturesque Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire.

Read the full article here: https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/money/11671590/hill-of-fare-windfarm-plans-anger-locals/

Our friends at Save our Hills – Moffat have been in touch with regards to three planning applications submitted to Dumfries and Galloway Council. You may have seen articles relating to Daer in the last few days, where the Head of Planning for the Council has recommended councillors DO NOT OBJECT.

Christopher Shaw had a wide ranging discussion with the Moffat group. What is clear (and also directly affects us here) is the following:

Dumfries and Galloway Council are unable to manage the volume of industrial wind turbine site applications that are being submitted.

This is leading to a lack of proper scrutiny of proposals, hence the big rubber stamp.

This lack of oversight is allowing the approval of applications that will blight the hills of Dumfries and Galloway for generations, with no serious consideration of our environment and communities.

The behaviour of Dumfries and Galloway Council Planning Department has revealed a complete inability to cope with the cynical tactic employed by the industrial wind turbine site developers to swamp the council and the Energy Consents Unit with huge and complex documents and a scandalous democratic deficit inherent in the planning process relating to wind turbine sites.

Save Our Hills – Moffat plan to make their utter disappointment in being let down by the local authority in their duty to protect the community of Moffat by demonstrating outside the Council Hall, English Street, Dumfries this Wednesday morning (29^th November). The meeting starts at 10.30am so demonstrators will be there from around from 9.15am.

The main purpose of the demonstration is to:

DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM OF ALL SCOPING OF SITES AND PLANNING APPLICATIONS UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL PLANNING DEPARTMENT ARE GIVEN THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES TO FULFIL THEIR DUTY OF PROPER SCRUTINY OF ALL INDUSTRIAL WIND TURBINE DEVELOPMENTS.

The meeting will be hearing the planning application for the Daer site but also Glenshimmeroch Hill just outside St. John’s Town of Dalry, and (as if that wasn’t enough!!!) Dalswinton Wind Farm outside Dumfries.

We at Save Straiton for Scotland wholeheartedly support Hands Off Our Hills and the community of Moffat in opposing these devastating proposals. A tourist hotspot, the home of the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project and the first Dark Sky Town in Europe! And that’s before we even consider the huge number of other objections.

As such we encourage EVERYONE able to get to Dumfries to join this demonstration. Please share this post as far and wide as you possibly can. If these proposals can be so recklessly approved do not be surprised when they appear at your door. For the reasons stated above Dumfries and Galloway Council have revealed a dereliction in their duty of care towards our communities and our environment.

The total number of wind turbines in Scotland is currently 4,273 spread over 334 wind power stations, there are further 29 wind power stations under construction comprising a further 640 turbines. There are an additional 96 wind power station sites consented and awaiting construction which will add another 1,058 turbines and there are also applications under consideration for a further 115 sites and 1,555 turbines. When that is complete, there will be 7,526 turbines and 574 operational wind power stations in Scotland although Scotland Against Spin reckon that is an understatement.

Data for South Ayrshire is not fully up to date, but South Ayrshire Council’s interactive map is presently being updated and should be fully up to date by Christmas. The map extract below shows current and proposed industrial wind power plants surrounding Straiton, but does not yet include the recent Back Fell proposal. The full map can be accessed here.

Scotland already has over 9,390MW of onshore wind capacity and Dumfries and Galloway is one of the top 3 local authority areas for onshore wind with almost 2,000MW capacity within or on its borders. D&G is already a net exporter of electricity having generation capacity for 15 times the number of homes in the region or projected to be in the region by 2028.

Data for Dumfries and Galloway only as at 27.08.2023:

Turbines

538 turbines in operation

367 turbines consented and awaiting construction428 turbines in planning (many of these are significantly taller than those in operation)

69 turbines in scoping

1402 turbines in total

Wind power stations

29 wind power stations in operation

27 wind power stations consented and awaiting construction

20 wind power stations in planning

5 wind power stations in scoping

81 wind power stations in total

Enough is enough!

The Scottish Government’s Energy Consent Unit has published its response to the Back Fell Scoping Report by E Power Ltd. The Scoping Response document can be downloaded here.

To recap, the proposed development would be located approximately 900m south of Straiton and is situated on uplands with a large area of commercial forestry and is anticipated to comprise up to 14 wind turbines with a tip height of approximately 200m. In addition to wind turbines there will be ancillary infrastructure including: crane hard standings and laydown area adjacent to each wind turbine; turbine foundations; power cables, linking the wind turbines, laid in trenches underground, including cable markers; a control building including substation, parking, and a small storage compound; battery storage compound, located adjacent to the substation compound; permanent and temporary power performance assessment (PPA) anemometry mast; new and upgraded access tracks, passing places and turning heads; drainage works; borrow pits; temporary construction compound and aviation warning lights.

The purpose of the ECU’s consultation was to obtain scoping advice from a range of consultees on environmental matters within their remit. Despite our request to the ECU, Save Straiton for Scotland was not included in the list of consultees. We are working to ascertain why we had not been included.

The Energy Consent Unit sets out in the report that ‘Scottish Ministers are satisfied with the scope of the EIA set out in the scoping report’ but acknowledges that additional information will be required as part of any formal planning application. In short, the report only deals with procedural matters, setting out what will be required for a planning application. It does not express an opinion as to whether the proposal would be supported or refused. A summary of key consultation responses is set out below;

• South Ayrshire Council agree with the general methodology but will require additional information / assessments including landscape and visual impact, noise, access and water supplies.
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency agree with the general methodology but will require additional information / assessments on watercourses, peat, mitigation and repowering / decommissioning.
• Nature Scot agree with the general methodology but will require additional information / assessments on impacts on Special Protected Areas, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, landscape and visual amenity, protected species, habitat management and peatland.
• Historic Environment Scotland agree with the general methodology but will require additional information / assessments and have particular concerns regarding impacts on Knockinculloch, land NW of Glenalla and Blairquhan.
• Transport Scotland agree with the general methodology but will require additional information / assessments on access routing.
• Scottish Forestry set out impacts will be significant and will require full details on felling and compensatory planting.
• Defence Infrastructure Organisation (MOD) has concerns over aviation safety.
• Glasgow Airport will require full details of the application to make an assessment.
• Prestwick Airport raises aviation safety concerns which have the potential to have an operational impact on the Airport as an Air Navigation Services Provider and would be minded to issue a holding objection to the development until all technical and operational aviation safety matters detailed above are addressed to the satisfaction of the Airport.
• RSPB will require additional information to make an assessment.
• Scotways will require additional information to make an assessment.
• Crosshill, Straiton and Kirkmichael Community Council unanimously voted against the proposal setting out that ‘The community of Straiton is strongly against wind farm development as shown in our recent CC survey. (72% of respondents against the three conjoined wind farms involved in the Public Enquiry, 67% against the Sclenteuch wind farm and 60% against any more wind farms in South Ayrshire). In 2017 the Community Council was unanimously against Knockskae’.
• Dailly Community Council oppose the scheme setting out a number of serious concerns.

It is now highly like that a full planning application will be prepared and submitted for the scheme. Save Straiton for Scotland will be preparing a full and robust objection to any planning application.

On a more positive note, since the AGM and the Letter of Concern many of you signed, we have correspondence from local elected members including our Westminster and Holyrood representative, supporting our case. We will keep all elected members updated and seek their assistance as we move forward.

We continue to monitor the situation and will be in touch with details of how you can help.

The Save Straiton for Scotland Team.

To help us fight the proliferation of industrial wind power plants in the area, we’d be really grateful if you could take 5 minutes to submit objections to two proposals, Knockodhar and Sclenteuch, that would seriously impact on local communities.

Knockodhar

Knockodhar Wind Farm (50MW) is a new wind farm proposal adjacent to the village of Pinwherry, 3.5 km south-west of Barr, in South Ayrshire. It consists of 16 x wind turbines (149.9 m – 200 m high to blade tip), a substation (132 kilovolt), an energy storage system (ESS) and compound. The documents relating to the Knockodhar Wind Farm application can be found at the Energy Consents Unit.

To object, you can cut and paste the summary below, or use your own text, and email it to econsents_admin@gov.scot quouting Ref: ECU00002153. You can find a more detailed objection document here.

I wish to object to the above application for the following reasons:

1. The development will have a significant and detrimental effect on the landscape in the area of Pinwherry, Barr and Colmonell and the Landscape Character Types designated by South Ayrshire Council LCT 18a and LCT 13 in this area.
2. In conjunction with other existing wind farms it will have a significant and detrimental effect on views from recreational routes in the area as well as the A714 and the B734 with potential to further damage the Merrick Wild Land area.
3. There are now twenty one wind farms within 20 km of the proposed development comprising over 430 turbines in total, this is too much of an intrusion into the peace and quiet of the area.
4. Access to the proposed Development will be from the small village of Pinwherry on the A714, a winding road, wholly unsuitable for heavy construction traffic. The construction traffic, over 100 HGV movements a day, coupled with the impact of other wind farms under construction will completely alter the character of the village of Pinwherry.
5. Deep ground work for turbine bases and borrow pits together with the requirements to manufacture 37,000 tonnes of concrete will significantly impact the hydrology of the area which is already subject to water problems due to the recent dry weather.
6. Aviation lighting will damage the dark Sky Park, the Biosphere and other important tourist attractions in the area.
7. Estimates of noise and shadow flicker are based upon out of date methodology and give misleading results.
8. The development will not make a significant contribution to reduced emissions because the grid cannot accommodate the proposed output.

Yours faithfully

Sclenteuch

RES who applied to build the Keirs Hill wind farm which was turned down in 2016 on landscape and residential amenity grounds following a public enquiry have applied to build a further wind farm on Keirs Hill with some turbines coming closer to Straiton.  The proposal is for 6 x 200m and 3 x 180m turbines and is in the forests directly opposite to the Dersalloch wind farm.  The turbines will be seen from Straiton and the roads leading into the village, and similarly for our friends in Patna and Waterside.

Save Straiton for Scotland has lodged an objection to the Energy Consents Unit and we would urge you to object to the proposal due to the adverse impacts resulting from this development.  It is not too late to object to this proposal.  The SSfS objection is available here.  Objections can be made to the ECU by email to Econsents_Admin@gov.scot quoting the reference number ECU00003318 and the title Sclenteuch Wind Farm.  Your objection should be signed off with your name and address.

You could cut and paste the following if it would make it easier:

Sclenteuch Wind Farm Reference ECU00003318

I am writing to lodge my objection to the proposed Sclenteuch industrial wind power station for 6 x 200m and 3 x 180m turbines which would have a damaging effect on the villages of Straiton, Patna and Waterside. Please therefore take this email as an objection to the proposal.

Add your name and address before signing off.

Alternatively you could prepare your own objection perhaps based on the SSfS’s objection which might include the following:

Landscape and Visual

The reporter for the Keirs Hill PLI concluded in 2016 that “there would be seriously adverse landscape impacts because of the height of the proposed turbines in relation to the scale of the landform on which the site is located. This would be particularly damaging when seen from the Doon Valley and the hills to the south. There would be serious visual impacts for properties at Waterside and the immediate surrounding area, and for parts of Patna. This would be because of the height and proximity of the turbines.”

This application was for turbines of 149m and turbines of 180m and 200m would extend the landscape impact on Patna and Waterside to Straiton.  It would be concluded that this impact would still exist but affecting the wider community.

For turbines of this size aviation lighting would be required at night which is going to impact on the Dark Sky Park.  The lighting would therefore constitute a threat to the designation of the DSP due to light pollution but the lighting would impact on the landscape at night with the possibility of flickering and the blades pass the lights on the towers.

Cultural Heritage

In 2016 the reporter for the Keirs Hill PLI concluded that “there would be adverse impacts on the historic estate at Waterside. This would be because of the proximity and height of the turbines which would have an adverse impact on the setting of scheduled monuments, listed buildings and the conservation area”.  This would remain as an adverse impact on the cultural heritage of the Doon Valley but extended to the cultural setting of Straiton.

Ecology

The applicant has assessed the size of the proposal as being medium as it consists of fewer than 10 wind turbines (small project size) and has one other operational wind development within 5 km (medium size).  It is not clear of the relevance of this assessment and it would seem to imply that the impact is somehow reduced.  While the number of turbines at 9 is below 10 the impact of 200m turbines could be considerable and significant.  200m turbines could have a swept area of over 17,000 square meters or 1.7ha.  9 turbines would therefore present a significant obstacle for bats and birds.

The applicant has noted that there were failures in the recording equipment for bats and that there were suboptimal conditions for bat activity during the survey.  This would lead to questioning the thoroughness of the survey.

Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology

The applicant states that the layout of the proposed development has been altered to take into account areas of deep peat but as this area contains extensive areas of deep peat they could be difficult to avoid.

Some turbines are adjacent to the Lochhead Burn and areas of deep peat.  The construction of the turbine bases and the connecting roads have the potential to impact on these areas of deep peat.  Being adjacent to a water course feeding into the Lochhead Burn there is the risk of pollution to these burns and Loch Spallander.

Traffic & Transport

It is considered that the impact from the construction of the wind farm on the communities of Patna, Waterside, Dalmellington and Straiton will create at least a nuisance.   Further it is considered that the level of detail submitted in support of the application in terms of cumulative impact from other windfarm schemes  which may be consented is insufficient for a full assessment to be made.

Assessment of Need

South Ayrshire Council’s supplementary submission on energy and planning policy in relation to the recent Clauchrie Wind Farm application set out why additional provision is not required and stated that:  

“While the Scottish Ministers are setting an ambition for an additional 8-12GW of onshore wind capacity by 2030 it is clear that this can be met by the existing pipeline of consented developments (5GW), with extensions to current consented sites (1.3GW) and by repowering older end of life developments (5GW). Kilgallioch and Arecleoch extensions have been approved since this statement was made. There is therefore no need for additional consents on new virgin site to meet the ambition.”  

In summary, there is evidence that demonstrates that additional onshore wind provision as would be provided by the proposed windfarm development at Knockcronal is not required.  The failings of the current windfarm economic case demonstrates that additional onshore wind provision will lead to further, unsustainable costs for consumers, while the wind farm operators are receiving substantial constraint payments. 

Socio economics and tourism

The developer is dismissive of the effect that windfarms have on tourism, not taking into account why visitors choose some areas over others. VisitScotland has said that tourism is crucial to Scotland’s economic and cultural well-being. It sustains a great diversity of businesses throughout the country. According to a recent independent report by Deloitte, tourism generates £11 billion for the economy and employs over 200,000 – 9% of the Scottish workforce. Tourism provides jobs in the private sector and stimulates the regeneration of urban and rural areas. One of the Scottish Government and VisitScotland’s key ambitions is to grow tourism revenues and make Scotland one of the world’s foremost tourist destinations.

In July 2016 the reporter for the Keirs Hill Enquiry concluded – “Impacts on tourism and recreation are difficult to be precise about and there is no confirmed evidence as to wind farms deterring tourists from visiting areas where they are located. Despite this the local economy is fragile and communities in the Doon Valley are trying to promote tourist based growth following the loss of the coal industry. Any small loss of income could have a significant adverse impact on the local economy.”  The same would apply in the Straiton locality which similarly derives much of the local income from tourism.

Many thanks for your continued support.

A Big Thank You to all who attended the AGM on Sunday 24th September, to those who spoke, and to the Afternoon Tea and Raffle teams. It was great to see so many existing and new supporters. We really appreciate your time and effort.

Back Fell

If you didn’t get a chance to sign the Letter of Concern for the Back Fell industrial wind power plant development, you can download a copy of the letter here. You can then print it off, sign it and post it to the Energy Consents Unit at the address shown. Alternatively, you can email it to Econsents_Admin@gov.scot quoting Ref: ECU00004830. Also feel free to pass this on to anyone you know who would want to express their concerns at this stage. If the applicant proceeds with a planning application, we’ll update you and will prepare a full objection.

Clauchrie

We welcome the recent refusal of planning consent for the Clauchrie industrial wind power plant development. As Christopher discussed at the AGM, the reasons for refusal make interesting reading. A copy of the refusal notice can be found here.

Cumulative Windfarms Mapping

The interactive mapping showing the locations of existing and proposed industrial wind power plant developments which was demonstrated at the AGM can be found here. This is an invaluable tool in assessing just how close the proposed turbines are to residential properties and settlements. Many thanks to Susan and her team at Winds of Justice.

How You Can Help

We are always looking for new member to join the Save Straiton team. If you’d like to get involved on any aspect of our work, no matter how big or small, we’d be grateful for your help. You don’t have to join the committee. Drop us a line at savestraiton@gmail.com

We’d also be grateful for any donations to help fund our work. Again, any amount, no matter how big or small all makes a huge difference. You can find out how to donate on the Save Straiton for Scotland website.

Coming Up

In the next couple of weeks, we’ll be in touch with regards Sclenteuch, Knockodhar and Knockkippen.

One Last Thing…

Just as a reminder how tall a 200m turbine is, the image below shows the comparison between a 200m turbine and the Hunter Blair Monument. Don’t worry, there are no proposals for turbines next to this landmark!

Save Straiton for Scotland invite you to their Annual General Meeting this Sunday (24th September) at 2.30pm in the McCandlish Hall, Straiton, when there will be notice of the recently announced Back Fell Wind farm, just 900m from Straiton, and updates on the proposed schemes of Knockcronal, Carrick, Craiginmoddie and Sclenteuch.

Come along to find out how you can help.

Scottish Ministers today (31/08/23) gave notice that planning consent for the proposed Clauchrie Wind Farm scheme has been refused.

The scheme would have seen the construction of 18 turbines of up to 200 metre tip height with an overall generating capacity of approximately 100 MW, including associated infrastructure (construction compounds, access tracks, substation etc.) and up to 25 MW of energy storage equipment on land approximately 5.5 kilometres north-east of Barrhill and 3 kilometres south of Barr, South Ayrshire.

In coming to his recommendation, the Reporter set out in his Inquiry Report that:

The proposed development would diminish the perception of naturalness in the western part of the Merrick Wild Land Area, and represent a significant escalation of the impact of wind farm development on the sense of remoteness, sanctuary and solitude in this area.

Residential property at Ferter (and to a somewhat lesser extent Shallochwell and White Clauchrie) would suffer a visual impact that would negatively affect the quality of life of residents.

In terms of cumulative impact, there would be a significant escalation of the impact of wind farm development on the perception of naturalness in the western part of the wild land area. Also of concern would be a potential effect on residential amenity at Shallochwell, where the addition of Clauchrie would greatly increase the sense of wind turbine developments being inescapable for people in the curtilage of the property.

The proposed wind farm would be experienced as a major unavoidable presence by the large numbers of people climbing The Merrick, would lessen people’s enjoyment of the qualities of the location, and would interrupt certain key views. Because of the regional significance of The Merrick, these impacts go beyond the merely localised. Due to the elevated nature of this viewpoint, and the scale and number of the turbines themselves, these impacts are not capable of mitigation within the description of the current proposal.

I have identified the potential damage to the special importance of The Merrick, and to the particular concentration of environmental designations in this location. In my opinion, this damage is so substantial as to render the proposal contrary to Policy 11(e) of NPF4 in that there are significant visual impacts that go beyond the localised and cannot be mitigated, and these impacts are sufficient to outweigh even the significant weight that must be given to the scheme’s potential benefits and the global climate crisis. The scheme would also fail to preserve natural beauty, which is one of the matters Ministers are required to have regard to the desirability of by Schedule 9 of the Electricity Act.

Full details of the refusal can be found at https://www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationDetails.aspx?cr=ECU00002001

Congratulations to all those involved in reaching this conclusion

There have been a number of turbine fires in the UK in recent years. While the most recent (15th August) was off shore, on shore turbines are equally suseptable to such incidents. Do we really want the potential for this in our landscape?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-66510193

When their quiet rural area in western Canada was slated for an industrial wind turbine project, families in the Northern Valley near Elk Point, Alberta banded together. When they went to raise their concerns at a recent “public consultation” they found out firsthand that they weren’t there to be consulted at all. All sounds familiar?

Source: http://www.windconcerns.com

Save Straiton for Scotland invite you to their Annual General Meeting on Sunday 24th September at 2.30pm in the McCandlish Hall, Straiton, when there will be notice of the recently announced Back Fell Wind farm, just 900m from Straiton, and updates on the proposed schemes of Knockcronal, Carrick, Craiginmoddie and Sclenteuch. These would total 67 x 200m turbines as shown on the map below.

For those that attended the last AGM you will recall that Susan and Melvin gave a presentation on noise and particularly low frequency noise. Susan will be able to bring you up to date with the adverse impact of noise from any of these proposals and how the conjoined inquiry dealt with the noise issue. Christopher will give an update on legal and policy and how this was dealt with by the inquiry.

There will be an afternoon tea and the usual Straiton raffle so please bring along a raffle prize.

A scoping stage report has recently been submitted to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit by E Power Ltd for the Back Fell Wind Farm. This would be on the Glenalla and Dalmorton forests and would provide 14 x 200m turbines. The applicant states that the village of Straiton will be approximately 900m from the site which is much nearer than any other current scheme proposals. The nearest turbines would be approximately 1km from Knockskae, Little Garroch, Balbeg, Dyke, and Knockgardner, and the application area bounds with the Straiton, Dyke and Knockgarder road.

The three schemes that are currently the subject of a public inquiry are; Knockcronal by Statkraft for 9 x 200m turbines, Carrick by Scottish Power Renewables for 17 x 200m turbines and Craiginmoddie by Energiekontor for 18 x 200m turbines. In addition, the Sclenteuch wind farm proposal is also currently being considered which will be in the forests to the west of the Dersalloch wind farm and will consist of 9 x 200m turbines.

All of these schemes will have significant impacts on the Girvan Valley, Straiton, surrounding communities and the wider landscape of South West Scotland which is already dominated by wind farms both operational and in the planning process.

The main issues of concern are:

200m turbines on high ground will have a significant impact on the landscape. The South Ayrshire Wind Capacity Study in 2018 recommended that turbines over 130m could not be accommodated in this landscape.

Schemes are very close to Wild Land areas and will impact significantly on the setting of the wild land designation by introducing man made and moving features in the landscape.

Residences in the local villages will have dominating views of turbines from multiple schemes.

All wind farms are close to residences and the potential for noise and shadow flicker leading to a deterioration of the enjoyment of properties and potential health impacts.

These wind farms cannot be considered in isolation as there are others in the application stage which will contribute to the adverse impacts on communities.

Some will recall that in 2013 there were proposals for around 130 wind turbines encircling the village of Straiton. The first out of the trap was Linfairn then Sclenteuch, Knockskae, Dersalloch, and Glenmount, towards Loch Doon. This led to the formation of Save Straiton for Scotland which objected to the proposals which would have an adverse effect on the community in terms of landscape, residential amenity, noise and shadow flicker. In the final analysis Dersalloch (23 turbines) was built, Keirs Hill or Sclenteuch (14 turbines) was refused at public enquiry, Knockskae (11 turbines) which went to South Ayrshire Council was refused and the applicant did not appeal, Linfairn was withdrawn at the 11th hour, and Glenmount towards Loch Doon was also withdrawn.

In 2018, just 3 weeks after Linfairn was withdrawn, Carrick was proposed followed by Knockcronal and Craiginmoddie. More recently Sclenteuch has been proposed. While the number of turbines is less than in 2013, the impact will be increased as the height of the turbines will be of the order of 200m. To give some idea of what a turbine this size will look like consider that the Hunter Blair monument is approximately 20m tall. These new turbines will be 10 times as tall as you can see below.

If you thought that enough was enough, think again!

A scoping stage report has recently been submitted to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit for the BACK FELL WIND FARM. This is on the old Knockskae site in Glenalla forest but takes in Dalmorton forest with the proposal being 14 x 200m turbines. The applicant states that the village of Straiton will be approximately 900m from the site which is much nearer than any of the 3 schemes that are currently the subject of a public inquiry. The nearest turbines will be approximately 1km from Knockskae, Little Garroch, Balbeg, Dyke, and Knockgardner, and the application area bounds with the Straiton, Dyke and Knockgarder road. Copies of the Scoping Report and the proposed site layout can be downloaded from https://www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationDetails.aspx?cr=ECU00004830

If you feel that this is getting too much for the community please contact the below who will be considering the scoping report and raise your concerns.

• John_Haston@hotmail.com (the secretary of the Crosshill, Straiton and Kirkmichael Community Council),
• daillycc@outlook.com (the secretary of the Dailly Community Council) and,
• Econsents_Admin@gov.scot (the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit) quoting Ref: ECU00004830

Save Straiton for Scotland will prepare a more comprehensive objection and circulate shortly to assist with registering an objection with the above. However in the meantime register your concerns with our community councils.

Save Straiton for Scotland will be holding its Annual General Meeting in September at the McCandlish Hall, Straiton and we urge all to attend to find out more about the public inquiry and this new serious threat to our community. Details of the meeting will follow soon.

Thanks for your continuing support.

The Save Straiton Team

Just to say a BIG THANK YOU to all who attended and spoke at the Landscape, Visual Effects and Residential Visual Amenity session last night at the Carrick Centre, Maybole. For once we outnumbered the applicants and their side, so your attendance was really appreciated.

The reporters listened intently to statements from local residents and our team on the impact of the schemes on the beautiful local landscape, the overbearing scale of proposed development on residential dwellings and the impact on local businesses.

This followed on from sessions on Noise last week which went well and gave the reporters and applicants food for thought.

Thanks again for your continued support.

The Save Straiton Team

The conjoined inquiry for the proposed windfarm schemes at Knockcronal, Carrick and Craiginmoddie started earlier this week with an inquiry session on Aviation and Landscape and Visual Impacts for the Carrick scheme.

The first day started off with aviation but that was very brief. The main inquiry for that will take place in the last week of June with other days to be confirmed in July.

Next up was the Landscape and Visual Impact witness for Carrick attempting to defend their project but not succeeding in changing any of our thoughts on the matter.

The second day was the turn of the witness for South Ayrshire Council who gave robust answers to the questioning she had to endure. Since she is also the author of South Ayrshire Wind Capacity Study (both 2012 and revised 2018) she was very able to defend the objections to the project made by SAC that turbines of this height have no place in this landscape. 

Over the next 2 months there will be a variety of inquiry and hearing sessions, some ‘in person’ and some ‘virtual’ covering Landscape and Visual Impacts for the other two schemes, as well as Peat Impacts, Noise, Legal & Policy, Private Water Supplies, Hydrology / Geology, Traffic, Transport & Access, Residential Visual Amenity, Planning Conditions and Aviation Safety. A copy of the inquiry programme can be downloaded here

Members of the public can attend all ‘in person’ sessions and can watch all ‘in person’ and ‘virtual’ sessions via https://dpea.public-i.tv/core/portal/home

We would encourage all those who oppose the schemes to attend an evening hearing session on Tuesday 6^th June at the Carrick Centre, Culzean Road, Maybole, KA19 7DE between 6:30pm and 8:30pm where the Landscape, Visual Effects and Residential Visual Amenity impact of the 3 schemes will be discussed. While only those who have registered to speak can contribute, a good turnout will help the reporters gauge the level of opposition to the schemes. We look forward to seeing you there and to your continued support.

The Save Straiton for Scotland Team.

Dear Supporters

The pre examination meeting for the conjoined public enquiry for: Knockcronal, Carrick and Craiginmoddie was held on 10^th January 2023 in the Carrick Centre in Maybole. This meeting was to set the parameters and the timescale for the inquiry and was chaired by the 3 reporters assigned to the 3 applications. The Inquiry will take place during the months of May and June 2023.

The KC’s and solicitors for the 3 applicants were present along with a KC and planning officer for South Ayrshire Council. Other attendees included NatureScot, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Galloway Biosphere, Crosshill, Kirkmichael and Straiton Community Council, Dailly Community Council, Save Straiton and some other interested parties.

Save Straiton had proposed that the issue of noise and shadow flicker should be dealt with over 4 days (a day for each and a further day for the cumulative impact). The reporters did not agree and proposed that 2 days of a virtual session would be adequate. Save Straiton was allowed to provide further information on this issue for the 3^rd February 2023 to support the request for more time and a real inquiry session. This submission has been made and the reporters have yet to feedback on this matter.

Of real concern was the issue of residential amenity and the reporters allowed an increase proposed by Save Straiton in the number of site visits on what had initially been proposed by the reporters. The number of site visits will be a sample of the considerable number of residences in the Girvan Valley to gauge the level of the impacts on residential amenity. Save Straiton has sought to have the impacts of noise and shadow flicker assessed as part of the site visits and not limited to visual amenity.

Of note is that NatureScot has now withdrawn its objection to the 3 applications on the basis of the impact on the Merrick Wild Land. They have done this following their review of the National Planning Framework 4, now adopted by Scottish Government, and their interpretation that wind power plants out with the wild land area can be permitted and the impact on the wild land area is irrelevant. Save Straiton will contest this interpretation of NPF4.

We will keep you up to date of further developments of the inquiry.

Thank you to all those that attended and spoke at the meeting on 27^th November. We hope you found the session useful and informative.

To recap, the schemes at Knockcronal, Carrick and Craiginmoddie are to be heard at a public enquiry in the new year. Save Straiton for Scotland will be appearing at the enquiry to present our opposition case. The application for the scheme at Sclenteuch is currently being considered by the Energy Consents Unit but no decision has been made yet.

Save Straiton for Scotland has submitted objections to all 4 schemes. To find out more about the schemes and read the Save Straiton for Scotland objections, click on the ‘Windfarms around Straiton’ on the menu at the top of this page.

On all schemes, there is still time for individuals to object. You can cite the reasons given in our objections, or set out your concerns in your own words.

You can e-mail The Scottish Government’s Energy Consent Unit;

econsents_admin@gov.scot quoting;

• Ref ECU00002181 for Knockcronal
• Ref ECU00003392 for Carrick
• Ref ECU00002196 for Craiginmoddie
• Ref ECU00003318 for Sclenteuch

You can e-mail / write to your local planning authorities;

planning.development@south-ayrshire.gov.uk for Knockcronal, Carrick, Craiginmoddie and Sclenteuch.

Planning & Development

South Ayrshire Council

Wellington Square

Ayr

KA7 1DR

submittoplanning@east-ayrshire.gov.uk for Sclenteuch.

Planning and Economic Development

East Ayrshire Council

Opera House

8 John Finnie Street

Kilmarnock

KA1 1DD

You can e-mail / write to your MP:

allan.dorans.mp@parliament.uk

Allan Dorans MP

House of Commons

London

SW1A 0AA

You can e-mail / write to your MSP:

elena.whitham.msp@parliament.scot

Elena Whitham MSP

The Scottish Parliament

Edinburgh

EH99 1SP

You can e-mail / write to your local Councillors:

Straiton           

• iain.campbell@south-ayrshire.gov.uk   
• brian.connolly@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
• william.grant@south-ayrshire.gov.uk   

Dailly & Barr   

• Alec.Clark@south-ayrshire.gov.uk       
• Gavin.Scott@south-ayrshire.gov.uk     
• peter.henderson@south-ayrshire.gov.uk         

Waterside      

• drew.filson@east-ayrshire.gov.uk        
• jennifer.hogg@east-ayrshire.gov.uk     
• elaine.stewart@east-ayrshire.gov.uk    

Thank you for your help, and wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Kind regards,

The Save Straiton for Scotland Team

Applications have been lodged with the Scottish Government’s Energy Consent Unit for

• Knockcronal (the old Linfairn site which was withdrawn in 2018) by Statkraft for 9 x 200m turbines,
• Carrick by Scottish Power Renewables for 17 x 200m turbines and
• Craiginmoddie (the old Hadyard Hill Extension which was withdrawn in 2018) for 18 x 200m turbines. 

Following objections by South Ayrshire Council, community councils and others the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division are proposing to hold a public enquiry in the new year to determine whether they should be consented.

Knockcronal and Carrick are situated at the head of the Girvan valley some 4 to 5km from Straiton. Both will have significant impacts on the Girvan valley and the community of Straiton. Craiginmoddie to the south of Crosshill on private forestry land will have significant impacts on Dailly and the wider landscape of South West Scotland which is already dominated by wind farms both operational and in the planning process.

The main issues of concern are:

• 200m turbines on high ground will have a significant impact on the landscape. The South Ayrshire Wind Capacity Study which was revised in 2018 recommended that turbines over 130m could not be accommodated in this landscape.
• Knockcronal and Carrick are very close to the Merrick Wild Land Area and will impact significantly on the setting of the wild land designation by introducing man made and moving features in the landscape
• Residences in the Girvan Valley will have dominating views of Knockcronal and Carrick. Dailly village will have views of most of the turbines from Craiginmoddie which will dominate the views from the village.
• All wind farms are close to residences and the potential for noise and shadow flicker leading to a deterioration of the enjoyment of properties. This could be exaggerated in the case of the Girvan valley and the funneling effect of any noise. Low frequency noise is a feature of the increased height of the turbines and can lead to health issues. Low frequency noise is often not considered by the applicants.
• Craiginmoddie in particular has several residences close to the proposed wind farm with the prospect of construction work taking place in their water catchment area.
• These wind farms cannot be considered in isolation as there are others in the application stage which will contribute to the adverse impacts on communities.
• Scotland produces its electricity mainly from renewables with a gas fired station at Peterhead used as a backup when the wind does not blow. There is therefore no need for these wind farms to reduce carbon emissions.
• Scotland already produces enough electricity to meet targets from those wind farms which are operational, repowering of existing wind farms and those approved and yet to become operational.

Besides these wind farms there is a further application which will impact on Straiton. RES have lodged an application with the Energy Consents Unit for Sclenteuch wind farm which will be in the forests to the west of the Dersalloch wind farm. This is a re-application of the Keirs Hill wind farm which was rejected in 2018 and will consist of 9 x 200m turbines. This application has the potential to impact visually on the setting of Straiton, the landscape, and affect residences close to the wind farm. Waterside and Patna will also be affected. These applications should be considered along with other wind farm applications:

• Clauchrie 18 x 200m turbines in South Ayrshire in the Galloway Forest has gone to public enquiry and the reporter’s decision is awaited
• South Kyle 50 x 200m turbines to the south of Dalmellington is under construction
• North Kyle approx. 50 x 200m turbines consented and yet to be built
• Knockkippen 12 x 200m turbines to the north of Waterside
• Knockdar approx. 17 x 200m turbines south of Barr merging with the Markhill wind farm at Barrhill

You are invited to a meeting on Sunday 27th November at 2pm at the McCandlish Hall, Straiton to discuss planning applications for the proposed Knockcronal, Carrick and Craiginmoddie windfarms. All local residents and other interested parties are welcome to attend to find out more about the schemes and also other wind farm applications which are coming in the area.