THE LAIRDS ARE GETTING WINDY?

Those of you lucky enough to travel through the Lammermuirs will have noted a great rash of wind farms. Not altogether popular with the locals who protested strongly at a proposal to build a third group of turbines at Fallage Ridge. The Borders Planning highheidyins seemed to agree with the protestors that less was enough. However the Berwickshire under the headline :
Lammermuirs set for yet another windfarm
reports that

'FURY has erupted at the news that council planners have recommended approval of a 48 turbine windfarm at the heart of a Berwickshire beauty spot.
The recommendation signals a massive U-turn by the planners who initially opposed the windfarm at Fallago Ridge in the Lammermuirs.'

The windfarm plan has since been revised to 48 instead of 60 turbines but objectors protest that it will still be a massive blot on the landscape.
The site is in the middle of an area that Scottish Borders Council previously agreed should be protected but despite this and 700 objectors - including Scottish Natural Heritage - the planners now think it should go ahead.
Protestors claim that if it does the Lammermuirs will become a giant windfarm as there are already turbines at Crystal Rig, Black Hill and nearby Soutra.
Others are in the pipeline at Johnscleugh and Aitkengall in East Lothian.
Another 48 at Fallago will mean the entire area will be spoiled for ever, claim the objectors.
Kate Knight of the Lammermuir Protection Group said: "We are really concerned about the sheer volume of the turbines that are being imposed on the Lammermuirs.
"We feel it it is a special landscape not just for the Borders but for the whole of Scotland as it is one of the few remote wildnernesses in the area.
"This is an area designated as an area of great landscape value (AGLV) and it is really important for the Borders that we maintain these areas.' (the image above is of the site in question)


But why the reference to a Laird? you ask.The Berwickshire account continues:

' The land is owned by the Duke of Roxburghe who is also a shareholder in North British Windpower Ltd who have put forward the application.
'"The Duke is not a poor man and it is not like he really needs the money. We notice that he is not proposing to put them near Floors Castle," said Ms Knight'The rest of the article concentrates on the pros (and mostly cons) of another 48 turbines and the remark about the Dukely Laird is rather left in the air.(No pun intended) But one wonders if His Grace's involvement with the developers is more to do with a burning desire for green power than an opportunistic vision of turning a grouse moor or two into a nice little earner.

I hope local Lairds are not tempted to follow suit: Turbines on Knowe's Close?

I doubt it-rent you will get but hardly enough to warrant a sufficient quid for your pro quo.

A local remarked in the Cross. 'We get quite enough wind around here without having to farm more'

Indeed


.  ¶ 10:19 AM