Turbine traffic generates concern for 'paralysed' communities in Borders
Last updated 18th Apr 2023
Concerns are being raised over the impact work on a new wind farm development is having on communities in the Borders.
Work's set to get underway on the Mart Street roundabout in Hawick today (Wednesday) to clear the way for turbines - measuring more than 130 metres - to pass through the town.
Last night's meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Partnership heard they're being transported from Grangemouth, via St Boswells, to the Pines Burn wind farm, near Bonchester Bridge.
But members were told advance works had already caused significant disruption to locals and businesses alike.
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Philip Kerr, who chairs Southdean Community Council, said: "We've got the roundabout situation in Hawick where there has been significant paralysis. Clearly services to local communities are going to be disrupted.
"We've obviously pitched in, as have local councillors, to Scottish Borders Council and there is a pending meeting - although we haven't had a date confirmed yet - where we will get the various parties round a table to discuss how we can better communicate to communities.
"We've still got about 78 abnormal loads to come in sometime between now, and it was going to be May to August. And it's important that people express their views now, to know exactly what we can say to the developer about what we need to know when, so businesses are disrupted less than they might be otherwise up to now."
Approval for 12 turbines at Pines Burn, on the Harwood Estate, near Hawick, was granted in 2018 following an appeal to the Scottish Government by German renewables developer Energiekontor UK.
Mr Kerr added: "(Planning) condition 10 was supposed to ensure that amenity of local commmunities was going to be safeguarded, and I don't quite know what's happened to that because it clearly hasn't happened."
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Four-way traffic lights will be in place at Mart Street roundabout in Hawick today to allow the final removal of street furniture "to facilitate abnormal loads". Nearby Linden Crescent and Union Street will also be closed until 8pm tonight (April 19th).
Scottish Borders Council says the lights will be manually controlled between 7am and 8pm to minimise disruption.
Meanwhile, it's being reported a five-week road closure notice in place on the A6088 north west of Kirkton has been delayed.
Clair Ramage, who represents Hawick and Denholm on Scottish Borders Council, said: "As councillors, when we saw the closure at Kirkton for so long - that small piece of road - and the impact it would have on the community, with no real information until afterwards, it was a bit of a shock.
"And I do wonder if June will be the date or if it will be pushed back again; but I do agree there has to be a meeting to discuss this."
We've asked the developers to respond.
Are you affected by the ongoing works? Let us know. Email: ally.mcgilvray@bauermedia.co.uk