Anger as Fell windfarm plans change again

PLEAS to stop a windfarm operator from “gaming the planning system” in Dumfries and Galloway were ignored last week.

The planning committee allowed German energy firm Energiekontor to change its plans once again for a windfarm in the Glenkens.

Energiekontor has been planning to install nine massive turbines between 180m and 200m high at Fell Windfarm between Blackcraig Windfarm and Loch Urr, around four miles south of Moniaive.

Earlier this year, the company was granted a five-year extension by the council to get its plans together and meet national regulations.

At last week’s planning committee, the company had filed two separate fresh proposals: one which included increasing the height of one turbine from 180m to 200m, and another ‘section 42’ request to change its site layout plan because they now want to install eight turbines instead of nine.

Even chief planning officer David Suttie admitted that all the changes had “muddied the waters” and caused confusion.

Trevor Proctor, of Help Save Mochrum Fell group, wrote a letter ‘strongly objecting’, which was read out.

He stated: “Consent for the Fell Windfarm was based on details specified by Energiekontor as their optimal design. No further changes should be allowed.

“Energiekontor have submitted five incremental section 42 applications where a completely new application should have been required.

“Turbine one is closest to Loch Urr, and increasing turbine one from 180m to 200m high has the most negative visual impact on this valuable tourist attraction.”

The statement continued: “Energiekontor have submitted a further application to increase all turbines from 200m to 220m. Please stop them from gaming the planning system yet again using multiple incremental section 42 applications to exceed their original refused scheme.”

David Suttie admitted: “It is exceptionally unusual to have quite so many section 42 applications for the same site and the same development.

“And it clearly is muddying the water in members’ minds and probably my own as well.”

Castle Douglas and Crocketford Councillor Pauline Drysdale blasted the proposals, saying: “Energiekontor keep doing this time and time again to our community.

“Do we, as a council, have any policies on how many section 42s we are willing to take? Is there Scottish legislation on that or not?

“Or do we just have to keep taking them time and time again?”

Mr Suttie responded: “We do not have the power to decline an application that is competent.

“The only power that we have is under section 39 of the act where, if you get exactly the same application time and time again, you can refuse to entertain it.

“But that’s not the case here because they’re clearly wanting something slightly different to the previous application you looked at.”

The planning committee approved Energiekontor’s latest proposals, but Councillor Drysdale’s dissent was recorded.