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.