Planners back Rivox windfarm bid

PLANNING officials are advising councillors not to raise any objections to a controversial windfarm plan near Moffat.

The 29 turbine Rivox Wind Energy Hub is due to go before the council’s planning applications committee next Wednesday as they are statutory consultees.

And the recommendation for local elected members is to raise no objections to the scheme.

It has been put forward by Belltown Power and if approved would see 29 turbines - 21 turbines at 230 metres tall and eight at 200 metres tall - extending from north of Deer Reservoir to just south of Beattock. The development would also include a battery storage facility.

It would fill in the gap between the existing windfarms which are located in the hills surrounding the town.

In their extensive report, the planners acknowledge that it would have a significant and adverse effect on landscape character and visual amenity, as well as on Moffat’s famous dark skies.

However, the report states: “In this case, the key questions in reaching a conclusion and a recommendation relate to whether these adverse impacts are localised, whether appropriate design mitigation has been applied, and whether or not as part of a balanced consideration, these adverse effects can be outweighed by positive social, environmental or economic benefits associated with this proposal.

“The application site is not located within a Regional Scenic Area. The application site is also located within an area of coniferous plantation where it has been noted that landscape sensitivities would be lower as a result, and more akin to those of the Southern Uplands with Forest Landscape Character type.”

The conclusion is that the councillors should support the proposal and raise no objection to the proposed development in their consultation response to the Scottish ministers.

And the report goes on: “Whilst it is recognised that some adverse and significant impacts would still arise as a result of this proposal, it is considered that, in the balance of considerations, these are mainly localised and have (or will be) the subject of mitigation such that when a balanced and holistic assessment is made of the proposal against the terms of the whole development plan, the conclusion is that the council should support this proposal and raise no objection to the proposed development.”