COUNCILLORS have agreed not to oppose plans for wind turbines in the Scottish Borders which will be 42 metres higher than the Blackpool Tower.
Scottish Borders Council is offering no objection to the re-powering of Crystal Rig wind farm between Dunbar in East Lothian and Cranshaws in Duns which is coming to the end of its operational life.
Crystal Rig is situated between Dunbar in East Lothian and Cranshaws in Duns.
An application came before SBC for 10 wind turbines with a maximum overall height (to blade tip) of up to 200m.
When members of the council’s planning and building standards committee met today they accepted a recommendation not to object to the scheme, following a recent site visit.
The application will now be decided by Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU).
Councillor Donald Moffat, SNP for Mid-Berwickshire, said: “We have actually refused some wind turbines within the last few months which were visibly over the top for their appearance and the landscape and whatever.
“Now on this, I don’t know about the rest of you, I’ve had a few representations over the last week or so and unusually I’ve actually had more things in favour of this than against this.
“This wind farm is in the plateau and is one of the best situated wind farms in the area I represent.”
It was a view echoed by councillor Aileen Orr, unaffiliated for East Berwickshire, who added: “Looking at the amount of turbines we have in that area another few won’t make that much difference.”
Councillor Marshall Douglas, SNP for Tweeddale East, also accepted the application but addressed the height of the turbines.
He said: “The fact is the landscape is very much an existing wind turbine landscape, that’s now what we have.
“To say no, we don’t want this kind of development is not really appropriate because in a sense the barn door is open and the horse has bolted.
“The height of these turbines is significant and it will make some impact obviously because at 200 metres you are talking about 656 feet which is a massive height, actually some 42 metres higher than the Blackpool Tower.”
A report to members stated: “The existing Crystal Rig I Wind Farm is coming to the end of its operational life and although some environmental effects may arise from the introduction of taller turbines at this site, the proposed development will generate more renewable energy than CR I and this additional renewable electricity carries significant weight in the overall planning balance.
“It is considered that the proposed repowering of Crystal Rig I represents a logical development that enables the continued use of the site for renewable energy purposes in a manner that will increase its contribution to renewable energy targets and any environmental effects can be appropriately mitigated through suitable planning conditions or are outweighed by the benefits that the development will generate.”
