Developer’s Barrhill turbines appeal dismissed 

Proposals for eight turbines that would have been built five miles to the east of Barrhill have been rejected.

The plans for Corwar Wind Farm were initially rejected by South Ayrshire Council’s regulatory panel at a meeting in August 2013 and an appeal by developers Willowind Energy has been dismissed by the Scottish Government.

The Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals issued the decision on Thursday 19 February.

Willowind Energy’s plans would have seen eight turbines built to the south of A714, five miles east of the village.

The turbines would have reached 126.5m to blade tip with a combined installed capacity of 16.4 megawatts.

In rejecting the appeal the reporter appointed by the Scottish Government referred to the landscape and visual effects of the turbines including cumulative impacts as well as the effects on residential amenity and the contribution to renewable energy targets.

The reporter states: “Corwar would exert a greater influence over the appreciation of the valley landscape as appreciated when travelling east along the A714 since it would close the view to the head of the valley.

“It would be intermittently visible between Pinwherry and Barrhill and again between Barrhill and the limit of the landscape character type.

“The section of the B7027 south-east of Barrhill also offers a good view of the landscape characteristics of the valley.

“I consider that the proposed turbines would be clearly visible from here and would appear out of scale with the characteristic valley features.”

The reporter went on to say: “In my opinion the additional effect of the Corwar Turbines over and above that of Mark Hill would be disproportionate to their number.”

He added: “I conclude that significant cumulative effects would be experienced within about 12 kilometres of the site.”

At the Regulatory Panel meeting last year, Barrhill Community Councillor Andrew Sinclair outlined his objections.

“I am objected to these proposals for a number of reasons.

“The Corwar Wind Farm would see an addition to the 28 turbines at Markhill which I should point out I didn’t oppose.

“However,this proposal for eight 25m high turbines is unworkable. We are trying to promote tourism in this area and I already know of two B and B’s in the area whose owners would plan to put them up for sale if this plan went ahead.

“The access would be near to the A714 which would create noise and stress for people in that area since they would only be 700m from the site.”

And Regulatory Panel chair Councillor Peter Convery added during the determination: “I will never forget the lady who told us about how stressed and ill she had become due to the shadow flicker.”

The report makes reference to those concerns and concluded that visual effects would be unacceptable for five properties in the area and significant for another seven.

The original planning application last year saw massive opposition to the proposals with 236 people outlining their objections via the South Ayrshire Council website with only 11 showing support for the proposed Corwar Wind Farm scheme.