No to Dunion Hill Wind Factory!
As of the 6th August 2007 Scottish Borders Council have confirmed that they presently have 26 applications, or scoping opinions, for planning permission for wind farms in our area, including Dunion Hill and Black Law. [1]
These are situated all over the Borders from Peebles in the west to Soutra in the north to Granthouse (formerly 2 now 1) in the east and Dunion Hill in the south. In between are applications at Oxton(2), Cranshaws(2), Longformacus, Walkerburn, Stow, Lauder, Heriot, Selkirk, Coldingham, Innerleithen, Lammermuir Hills , Craik Forest, Leithope by the Carter Bar, Langhope Rig at Ashkirk, Middleton at Tweedsmuir and Whitton by Morebattle.
 A complete map, which illustrates the scale and impact of these applications, can be seen courtesy of the windbyte website here
A more detailed list is also available courtesy of the wyndbyte website here
Almost every application, or scoping opinion has been lodged by a different company. If all these applications are granted the visual impact will be horrendous and the Borders countryside will be irrevocably changed for the worse.
The Dunion Hill and Black Law is the site for which, on 24th January, Windjen submitted a planning application to erect eight 101-metre-high wind turbines. They have joined the recent gold-rush by electricity suppliers who stand to benefit from huge subsidies and the promise of handsome profits offered by a government desperate to be seen to be reducing C02 emissions and the threat of Global Warming.
The members and supporters of the Dunion Hill Conservation Group are aware of the real need for change in our attitude and policy towards energy consumption and for the development of Renewable Energy Sources. But we cannot condone what has swiftly emerged as a totally indiscriminate siting for this "Energy Factory" for the sake of financial gain for the wind power developers and the electricity companies and misappropriated "green" kudos for the government. The cost of which will inevitably be born, not by the government, but by the consumer through higher electricity bills.
We are vehemently against this proposed industrial development in this totally inappropriate location. It would dominate the beautiful Rule Water Valley and its environs, one of the Borders hidden treasures, and our intention is to prevent it ever happening here. We invite you to use this site to help make up your mind about whether or not to object to this proposal by Windjen. If you agree with us then please let your voice be heard by contacting the group at the address below.
Note 1: For a list of Wind farm developments currently within the planning process, received from the Scottish Borders Council, January, 2006, click here (8kb pdf file).
Chairman: Andrew Nicholson - Secretary: Finoula Kerr
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