Finlay Carson MSP has today welcomed the decision by the Scottish Government to dismiss the appeal by Ecotricity, meaning the California Wind Farm Development, at Carsluith, Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway will not be going ahead.
The development which would be situated on Stroans Hill, near Carsluith, would have included the erection of seven turbines which would have been visible right across Wigtown Bay – the UK’s largest local nature reserve.
Opposition to the plans were led by the action group ‘Save Wigtown Bay’ who were set up when the proposals were first announced.
Ecotricity first lodged their appeal with the Scottish Government on 28th January 2016 on the grounds of non-determination by Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Following the decision by the Scottish Government’s reporter, Finlay said:
“Today’s decision by the Scottish Government is the right one.
“Unlike the decision on Mochrum Fell last week, in this case it appears that the voices of local people have been listened to and concerns about the visual impact of the proposed development have been taken into consideration.
“In the end over 1200 objections were received by Dumfries and Galloway Council against this development – a significant number indeed.
“I particularly want to applaud the efforts of the ‘Save Wigtown Bay’ action group who have led the campaign against these proposals for the past two years and have, at every opportunity, put their case across so eloquently.
“As the reporter states in his decision, the development would have had a significant adverse effect on views across the Wigtown Bay from Wigtown and the Machars.
“This confirms the point that made people made at the start – it was never the correct place for a wind farm to be situated”.
