East Ayrshire wind farm moves step closer to reality

Plans for the scaled-back Breezy Hill wind farm currently sit with Scottish ministers, pending an overall decision.

As part of this process, East Ayrshire Council acts as a consultee, providing its own feedback on the plans.

The final decision rests with the Scottish ministers, due to the generating power of the planned wind farm being over 50MW.

Brockwell Energy had initially planned to create the 26-turbine, 80MW Breezy Hill Wind Farm on land between New Cumnock and Dalmellington.

However, revised plans are now for a 20-turbine development with blade tips up to 149.9m at maximum height and a battery storage facility.

The proposals were discussed at a council planning meeting this week, in which East Ayrshire Council offered no outright objection to the proposals, subject to relevant conditions being met.

However, Cumnock and New Cumnock councillor Neill Watts tabled an outright objection to the proposals.

He said: “I would move an outright objection, based on the scale and cumulative impact, battery safety because I think there’s a public risk there, the environmental damage and the deforestation.”

Councillor Watts' move was not seconded by any of his fellow councillors, but his objection was noted at the meeting.

But councillors did once again raise the issue about the potential cumulative impact of wind farm developments in the area.

Doon Valley councillor Jim Kyle said: “I’m concerned about the over concentration of wind farms and storage.

“All you see going over the New Cumnock and Dalmellington road is wind farms.”

Ballochmyle representative William Lennox stated: “At some point in time, the horizon is becoming increasingly dense in terms the amount of turbines we see.

“There will come a point in time when we do reach saturation point in terms of the amount of wind farms and turbines we see on the landscape.

“We need some guidance as an authority for where we draw the line.

“I appreciate communities are benefiting financially. But, at the same time, there’s the visual impact as well.”

Members were again told that each application has to be determined on its own merit, but the planning committee would continue to be given advice on what the best outcome would be.