Plea for work on Borders windfarm to be SUSPENDED amid concerns over ongoing disruption

There's a call for work on a Borders windfarm to be SUSPENDED.

It follows concerns over the impact it's having on nearby towns and villages.

Earlier this month, a meeting of Teviot and Liddesdale Area Partnership heard advance works to clear the way for turbines to be delivered to Pines Burn windfarm, near Bonchester Bridge, had led to gridlock in Hawick.

And it's since been claimed the ensuing disruption led to one local business losing £25,000 in trade.

Seven community councils have now signed a letter to Scottish Borders Council demanding action.

They include Hawick, which is also proposing a public meeting to which the developer, contractor, owner and local authority are invited.

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It reads: "Communities already have concerns... that rural amenity has not been safeguarded. This seems increasingly obvious. Urban amenity has also been impacted significantly with the prospect of more to come. 

"...there were suggestions of regular updates to keep communities informed via newsletters. That hasn’t happened along the route. This has become increasingly evident as more communities are impacted. 

"We also now have the use of novel blade lifting technology being brought into play. That seems to have required additional work, especially trimming of tree branches and adjustments to overhead utilities. 

"While this is outlined (in the traffic management plan), there seems to have been no EIA (enivronmental impact assessment) done on tree/branch removal, and corresponding bat studies which we believe are a legal requirement. 

"Communities are also seeking to know whether risk assessments have been done on the blade highering and lowering along the route as this is a novel technology." 

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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.

But last year it was acquired by Capital Dynamics, an independent global private asset management firm.

It's estimated the windfarm could generate enough electricity to power over 23,000 homes a year.

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The letter, addressed to SBC's chief executive David Robertson and the council's chief planning officer, Ian Aikman, continues: "The Community Benefit discussions have not taken place since a proposed cut was mooted. 

"There is enough here to strongly suggest the development should be paused immediately to allow a proper assessment of what has been going on and what remains outstanding so that community amenity can be safeguarded. 

"Ultimately, this should be a Just Transition for the all communities involved. There are a large number of further schemes proposed for our area at various stages in the planning process. We have to ensure that further developments are undertaken in a manner far more suited to the protection of Community Amenity whilst understanding the scale of the proposals suggested.

"The Pines Burn Wind Farm is showing the local communities how a wind farm should not be built in our view, and impacting local sentiment towards the renewables sector."

And it adds: "There needs to be urgent engagement on this topic, which is a major concern for all our communities." 

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As well as Hawick, the other community councils to sign the letter are: Denholm, Hobkirk, Newcastleton, Southdean, Upper Liddesdale & Hermitage, and Upper Teviot & Borthwick Water.

We've asked Scottish Borders Council for a response.

Are you affected by the Pines Burn windfarm development? Email our reporter: ally.mcgilvray@bauermedia.co.uk

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