Following on from their first public exhibition in March this year, the developer of the proposed wind power plant at Back Fell, Straiton (12 x 200m turbines plus battery storage facilities) will be holding a second public exhibition on Thursday 23rd May 2024:

11.00 – 14.00 – McCandlish Hall, Main St, Straiton, KA19 7NF

15.00 – 18.00 – Crosshill Community Centre, 34 Kirkmichael Road, Crosshill, KA19 7RJ

They say that the exhibition will give the E Power team the opportunity to update us on progress with the project and to answer any questions we may have. If they had really listened to the local community, they would have given up on this crazy scheme. Let’s see how they talk their way out of this one. Given that there was an unprecedented turn-out of the local community in opposition to the scheme at the March evening session, has the morning session next Thursday been scheduled to limit the potential of a large turn-out again?

The exhibition materials from March are still available online at the project website, https://backfellinfo.co.uk/ along with a questionnaire for residents who are unable to attend the exhibition.

We urge you to attend to the Straiton session on Thursday 23^rd May at 12:00 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 now being for 12 x 200m turbines. The scheme would be much nearer Straiton than any of the 3 schemes that are currently the subject of a public inquiry with multiple turbines being in close proximity to residential properties, such as Knockskae, Little Garroch, Balbeg, Dyke, and Knockgardner. The map below shows the application site boundary.

The three schemes that are currently the subject of a public inquiry are Knockcronal, Carrick and Craiginmoddie. In addition, the Sclenteuch wind farm proposal is also currently being considered. In total these schemes would see 53 x 200m turbines around the village. The Back Fell scheme would see this increase to 65 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 only way we can continue to fight this proposal is by making ourselves heard and seen. Your attendance at the Straiton session on the 23^rd May is vital. Please forward this post to anyone you know so we can maximise turnout and demonstrate to the developer that this senseless development cannot be allowed to proceed.