OVERHILL Wind Farm’s nearest neighbour has claimed that local democracy is being denied after the council gave developers the green light.

East Ayrshire Council’s planning committee gave developers EnergieKontor permission for the 10-turbine wind farm between Dalmellington and New Cumnock on Friday, January 18.

However, there were over 400 more objections than letters of support and Jerry Mulders – who stays less than 2km from the planned turbines – feels let down by the council.

Jerry told the Chronicle: “It is disappointing that EAC and the majority of the planning committee have decided to support and approve EnergieKontor’s Overhill Wind Farm proposal.

“EAC seem to be inconsistent in relation to what they deem acceptable on behalf of their residents, who are also their clients. Only recently they opposed Enoch Hill Wind Farm, which had three objections, Ashmark had two, High Park had three, and Pencloe had 79.

“It therefore seems astounding that Overhill – which had over 830 objections, making it the second most objected to wind farm development in East Ayrshire – was backed.

“The cash-strapped councils are faced by potentially massive legal bills when the SNP Ministers overrule local democracy.

“Does this mean that that from now on EAC will have no choice but to capitulate to SNP policy because they can’t afford to keep being overruled and losing appeals by

representing their council tax paying residents?”

Alan Macintyre, Project Manager at

Energiekontor said: “There has been

significant community response to our proposals with 399 for and 836 against.

“Of the eight community councils across Cumnock and Doon Valley that we have

consulted, we received three representations of support, one objection and four with no objection.”