logo
Council advised to object to Tweedsmuir wind farm scheme

Council advised to object to Tweedsmuir wind farm scheme

BBC News25-06-2025
A council has been advised to object to a wind farm being proposed in its area due to its "significant adverse landscape and visual impacts".Developers want to build seven turbines in the Oliver Forest scheme near to Tweedsmuir.A report to Scottish Borders Council's planning committee says the "degree of demonstrable harm" outweighs its economic and environmental benefits.The final decision on whether the project can proceed will lie with the Scottish government.
The site earmarked for the development is about eight miles (12.5km) south of Broughton and 12 miles (19km) north of Moffat.It would consist of seven turbines up to 200m (650ft) in height to their blade tip.A potential location for a battery energy storage system (BESS) has also been included on the site.However, the council is being advised to lodge an objection to the project on two grounds.The first concern is the visual impact on the nearby village of Tweedsmuir.A further reason cited for opposition is the effect on the landscape character of the area.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Scottish Water workers accept pay offer but ‘concerns continue', says union
Scottish Water workers accept pay offer but ‘concerns continue', says union

The Independent

time23 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Scottish Water workers accept pay offer but ‘concerns continue', says union

A series of strikes have been brought to an end as Scottish Water workers accepted an improved pay offer, but union officials said 'staff concerns continue'. Unison said on Thursday that the latest pay deal, which covers the 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years, had been accepted by its members. The union represents more than 1,000 workers at the Government-owned corporation, making it the union with the largest presence at Scottish Water. The pay deal is worth a minimum of £2,850 for staffers on salary bands one to six. Staff on band seven salaries will receive an additional £3,030, and band eight workers will gain another £3,771. Some 77% of Unison members at Scottish Water voted, 63% of whom accepted the offer. Scottish Water initially offered workers a basic pay rise of 3.4% or £1,050 for those on the lowest grades. Unison members had earlier rejected an improved pay offer from the employer. There were 10 days of strike action this year at Scottish Water. Staff who took action included treatment plant operators, maintenance crews, water quality teams and other frontline workers. During the strikes, the union said there were no emergency repairs, water quality checks, or responses to public reports of problems with water supply, sewage or drainage. The employer had originally offered a pay rise of £1,050 for those on the lowest-grade salaries. This was later upped to 7% over two years, which was also rejected. While the latest offer was accepted, Unison said it will continue to press Scottish Water bosses to cut the excessive use of contractors and agency staff. The union also said more must be done to improve industrial relations across the sector following the dispute. Unison Scotland regional organiser Greig Kelbie said: 'The immediate dispute may be over, but staff concerns continue. They want better pay and conditions, and to keep Scottish Water as a publicly-owned and run service. 'The company's behaviour has become ever more like that of profit-driven water firms in England. That's not the way a vital public service for Scotland should operate. 'The union and staff will be fighting the creeping privatisation of the industry.' Unison Scottish Water branch secretary Patricia McArthur said: 'Staff have decided to accept this offer after a long and difficult dispute, but it's far from ideal. 'In theory, Scottish Water is still the jewel in the crown of Scotland's public services. But the reality is that its operations are being handed increasingly to private operators. That must stop.' Fellow unions GMB and Union have also been in dispute with the employer.

Lack of rain triggers slump in renewable power at green energy giant
Lack of rain triggers slump in renewable power at green energy giant

Telegraph

time3 hours ago

  • Telegraph

Lack of rain triggers slump in renewable power at green energy giant

A drought across the UK has triggered a slump in renewable power generated by one of Britain's largest energy producers. SSE, the FTSE 100 energy group, said hydroelectric power stations were being forced to switch off as conditions dry up lakes and rivers. Hydroelectric power stations use water flowing downhill to spin generators, and are widely used in mountainous areas like Scotland and Wales. According to the group, power generated from hydroelectric sources fell by more than 40pc between April to June to 335 gigawatt hours (GWh) versus 565GWh in the same period last year. Scotland has about 80 such plants with SSE having the largest fleet, with a total generating capacity of 1.5GW – roughly equivalent to two large gas fired power stations. Many, however, have had to switch off or cut output in recent months. SSE blamed 'unfavourable weather conditions' in April and May for the drop in power production. A spokesman added: 'It's been very dry and that means river levels are low.' It follows warnings from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency that eastern Scotland is approaching drought conditions. Four areas of England are also now in drought: the East and West Midlands as well as Yorkshire and the North West. Patchy power SSE's warning on hydroelectric output is the latest illustration of how patchy weather-dependent sources of power like solar and wind can be. Britain gets about 2pc of its power from hydroelectric plants but this is set to grow with several companies planning dams in Scotland's highlands. SSE has been cutting back on its wider green commitments – the company recently announced a £3bn reduction in its planned investments in renewables, blaming planning and policy delays by the UK and Scottish governments. It also cut 300 jobs from its renewables business. Its latest figures show it remains a mainly fossil fuel-based generator with about 57pc of the power it generates coming from gas fired power stations. However the company has today confirmed plans to build a power station in Ireland that will run largely on used cooking oil. The Platin power station in County Meath, which cost €300m (£260m), has generating capacity of 170 megawatts. SSE generates power via hydroelectric plants, wind farms, and gas-fired power stations. Its distribution division runs the networks linking homes and businesses to the national grid across central southern England and the north of Scotland.

Energy giant SSE sees UK dry spell hit water power generation
Energy giant SSE sees UK dry spell hit water power generation

The Independent

time3 hours ago

  • The Independent

Energy giant SSE sees UK dry spell hit water power generation

SSE has said it produced less energy from its water power stations in recent months as parts of Scotland faced the driest spring in more than 60 years. The Perth-based energy giant reported a 4% decrease in output in May and June, compared with the same period last year. This was due to 'unfavourable weather conditions' affecting its hydro power stations, which work by harnessing the power of moving water to generate electricity. SSE's hydro generation dropped by about 40% in the three months to June, compared with the same period a year ago. Scotland has experienced a lack of rainfall, with regions in the east seeing the driest spring since 1964, according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. SSE told investors that the dry conditions offset strong operational availability across its renewable power plants. Meanwhile, the company welcomed 'clarity' from the Government's decision not to split the country into different energy pricing zones. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed earlier this month that the UK would retain a single national wholesale price for electricity but reform the current system. SSE said in a statement to investors that the decision brings 'welcome clarity for both investors and consumers whilst sending a strong investment signal that reaffirms the UK as a world-leading renewables market'. The form said its financial outlook for the year continues to be subject to weather, market conditions and plant availability, with the key winter months still to come.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store