Hands Off Our Hills Brave The Cold To Hold A demonstration https://handsoffourhills.co.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/all-1024x768.jpg 1024 768 Hands Off Our Hills Hands Off Our Hills //handsoffourhills.co.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/logo-white-tm.png January 19, 2024 January 22, 2024

Hands Off Our Hills Brave The Cold To Hold A demonstration

About 40 people with placards and banners pitched up outside the MacMillan Hall, where developers RES were holding their first community liaison group for the Blair Hill Wind farm scheme. – (c)2024 Fiona Reid – DNGONLINE.co.uk

ANTI windfarm campaigners braved the cold to hold a demonstration in Newton Stewart on Wednesday (17 January 2024) evening. About 40 people with placards and banners pitched up outside the MacMillan Hall, where developers RES were holding their first community liaison group for the Blair Hill Wind Farm scheme.

Demonstration - No New Turbines — _{No new turbines stencil was made by Andrew Hockenhull}

The passionate opponents had even composed a special anti turbine song for the occasion, which was periodically sung with gusto.

Organiser Kenny Campbell, of the Hands Off Our Hills group, described it as “an effective protest”.

He said yesterday:

“An enormous heartfelt thanks to all those hardy souls who turned out in seriously freezing conditions to demonstrate outside the RES so-called ‘Community Liaison Group’“.

Mr Campbell had declined an invitation to be part of the liaison group, which he has described as a “charade” and “a process completely weighted in favour of the company, landowners and other ‘interested parties’“.

Demonstration Andrew Hockenhull holding his stencil no new turbines — _Campaigner: _{Andrew Hockenhull holding his stencil ‘no new turbines’}

He added: “The demonstration was respectful but clear regarding our message, no doors were blocked but we let people know we won’t allow this devastation to happen.”

Launching the community liaison RES Group, said “it was intended to provide a forum for discussion and exchange of information, as well as to create an effective channel of communication between RES, the local community and stakeholders”.

HOOH Campaigners holding their placards in demonstration about Blair Hill Wind Farm RES Community Liasion Group Meeting — _{HOOH Campaigners holding their placards}

The agenda for this week’s inaugural meeting included a project update and question and answer sessions.

The Blair Hill scheme is proposing 22 turbines at a site six kilometres north of Newton Stewart.

Hands Off Our Hills - Demonstration - Blair Hill Wind Farm - RES Community Liasion Group Meeting

Community liaison group RES – 17th Jan 2024 https://handsoffourhills.co.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/dashwood-1024x768.jpg 1024 768 Hands Off Our Hills Hands Off Our Hills //handsoffourhills.co.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/logo-white-tm.png January 16, 2024 January 22, 2024

Community liaison group RES – 17th Jan 2024

Community liaison GROUP MEETING Tomorrow – Wednesday 17th January 2024

We know how you all love a get together, particularly when it involves letting those lovely folk from RES know what you think and feel about their awful proposal for our hills.

They may have been upset about our refusal to join their “community liaison group” (CLG) and that might be the reason it slipped their mind to let the COMMUNITY know the first CLG is tomorrow. It’s fine, we forgive them for this tiny oversight.

However, though it will be dark and cold if you’d like to come along to the Macmillan Hall, tomorrow (Wednesday 17 January 2024) from 5.30pm ish there will be an opportunity to show the company, elected members and other voluntary CLG members your total rejection of these plans. Very short notice but we only found out about this a couple of hours ago.

The demonstration will be respectful but clear regarding our message, no doors will be blocked but we’ll let people know we won’t allow this devastation to happen.

Bring a flask, yer bonnet and yer voice.

Blair Hill Wind Farm – Proposal At Wigtown County https://handsoffourhills.co.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/wigtown-county.webp 810 539 Hands Off Our Hills Hands Off Our Hills //handsoffourhills.co.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/logo-white-tm.png October 18, 2023 January 19, 2024

Blair Hill Wind Farm – Proposal At Wigtown County

BLAIR HILL WIND FARM – A large number of local people arrived at the Wigtown County Buildings to view the proposals for aN Industrial Turbine SITE (BLAIR HILL WIND FARM) development in the Galloway Hills.

Blair Hill a proposed developement by RES held a public engagement event on Wednesday, which came after another one at Newton Stewart on Tuesday.

RES, who are based in Hertfordshire, are looking to construct 22 turbines up to 820 feet high around Blair Hill. It is proposed for moorland and woodland north of Old Minnigaff.

In Wigtown, Hands Off Our Hills members held a vigil outside as the event began.

Wigtown man Tony Riden said: “I have worked in nature conservation for 35 years and am a member of Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, the Scottish Ornithology Club and the RSPB. The moor is precious habitat and home to species like golden eagle, curlew, marsh harrier, golden plover and redshank. There has also been black grouse recorded on Barclye Moor.”

In the hall, construction worker David Cannon, also from Wigtown, was undecided.

He said: “I’m on the fence about the whole thing. I see it from a construction point of view and the work it would bring to the firm I would work for and other firms round about.

“But I know the turbines are very much in your face and I can understand the arguments why they are unacceptable.”

Pam Hughes from Newton Stewart was firmly against.

She said: “I’m stone mad. What about all the peat beds getting dug out for the turbine foundations? The water that the peat would otherwise soak up running into the rivers?”

Blair Hill - Campaigners hold their placards against the proposed site. — _{Campaigners: Angela and Sheron Not Only Fighting The Turbines But Also The Weather}

Arthur Scott, also from Wigtown, wanted people to ask a question.

“Who benefits from this?“

Morag Donnan, from Sorbie, said: “I’m angry. They state there’s a nature crisis and trying to preserve all these rare species in their natural habitats.

“Yet these huge great machines are going to be brought in. All this concrete they are going to pour is going to affect all the water courses.”

Heather Bourne, from Polbae near the Knowe, lives close to Kilgallioch Wind Farm.

“The turbines sound like a jet engine with a whoosh. I wake up suddenly at night and I don’t know why. I’m horrified at this.”

The Galloway News did find one woman who was very much in favour but she did not wish to be quoted.

An RES spokesperson said afterwards: “We’re still in the early stages of designing the proposed Blair Hill Wind Farm and the feedback received will be used to help refine the proposals.

“We would like to thank everyone for attending and for showing an interest in the project. RES has lots of experience of using the local supply chain in Dumfries and Galloway to construct wind farms and if consented, we expect the project would invest in excess of £6 million in the local economy. During the operational life of the windfarm it would also pay around £1.5 million in business rates, every year, supporting vital local services.”

He went on to say “We look forward to working with the community as we progress the proposals, to discuss the design as it evolves and to understand how the community would like to benefit from the proposed community benefits package, which could include our Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS).”

Glenvernoch – Hands Off Our Hills are Making Their Voices Heard https://handsoffourhills.co.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Glentrool-Hive-3.png 800 525 Hands Off Our Hills Hands Off Our Hills //handsoffourhills.co.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/logo-white-tm.png October 6, 2023 January 19, 2024

Glenvernoch – Hands Off Our Hills are Making Their Voices Heard

A gathering of approximately 150 people filled The Hive at Glentrool for an open event hosted by Energiekontor, a German renewable energy company.

Glenvernoch Wind Farm – and Industrial Wind Site proposed by Energiekontor a company which aimed to gauge public opinion on the proposed construction of an 18-turbine wind farm on nearby moorland. However, the organisers had an unsuccessful search for any supporters among the attendees.

Many of them were from groups such as Hands Off Our Hills and eagerly completed feedback forms, which ran out so quickly that more were required. Hive project manager Billie Jones obliged and printed off 90 forms in total upon request.

Neil Skelton, a resident of Bargrennan living less than a mile from the potential wind farm site, helped create a four-page pamphlet for Hands Off Our Hills.

He told the Local News that he had pondered:

“How can we win against these sites?”, and had conducted his research to inform people. He expressed his deep affection for the area he lived in and revealed:

“I have had enough of being battered by the political system. If this goes through I can’t stay here. The wind turbines are the final straw.”

Mr Skelton further explained, “All the walks I go on won’t be the same and there will be a terrible impact on nature and wildlife. I was for wind turbines before but now I would object to any more because it’s all about money. They have enough sites already.”

Despite his reservations, Mr Skelton found solace in the strength of feelings people held and expressed the hope that victory over the project is possible.

Glenvernoch campaigner Barry Donnan showing his objections with placards — _{Campaigner: Barry Donnan Showing his objections with placards}

Another local resident, Barry Donnan boldly stated his opinion as the event kicked off, earning him a round of applause.

In his address to the Energiekontor delegation, he stated, “I just think there’s no point in beating about the bush.” He continued, “And I don’t think there is any way this is going to happen.”

Mr Donnan went on to express that he believes the land and landscape are being underestimated, and that he believes the community will come together to stop the project.

In an interview with the Local News, Donnan drew parallels between this campaign and the Mullwharchar campaign, making it clear that there will be a fight. As a parent originally from Dalmellington, Donnan has a special connection to the hills and has been walking them since he was 14.

Nick Biggins, from Kirkcudbright, was unimpressed by display boards showing the turbines as tiny objects on the horizon. Mr Biggins said:

“The exhibition is cheap and insignificant,It does not tell us anything. It’s underwhelming, disappointing and of no use.”

Lynne Hardman, from Old Minnigaff, said: “It is what we expected as a PR exercise. It’s a bit thin – there were expectations of a 3D model but that’s not transpired. People wanted to see the scale of what they were dealing with. The level of feeling is overriding what they are trying to convey.”

Chris Smyth, from Urrall, near Kirkcowan, also opposed the Glenvernoch scheme.

He said: “We already have a big strip of wind turbine developments from Barlockart near Glenluce right to Barrhill. We can hear a low grumble from them over the back of us all the time.

When these turbines were joined into one continuous strip I thought that was it. But now they are planning more north of Newton Stewart.”

Glenvernoch Wind Farm Project Manager George Oldroys — _{Energiekontor Representative/Project Manager: George Oldroys}

Energiekontor project manager for Glenvernoch Wind Farm, George Oldroyd, accepted the turnout had been much bigger than he expected.

He said: “I have done six so far with Energiekontor and four or five others. But this is the biggest one I have done. I was aware it would be busy and had anticipated perhaps 50 people. So to hear a figure of more than 100 people does not surprise me.”

When asked by a local news reporter if any support for Glenvernoch Wind Farm had been expressed for the scheme, he said:

“I’m not aware of anybody being in favour. People have been saying there’s enough turbines, that it’s saturation.That was one of the main reasons for objections. We will take away the points from here and go through the consultation feedback forms, and the constructive criticisms of the design.”

“We are awaiting a scoping opinion from the Scottish Government and the results of the public consultation. It’s looking like there will be another alteration to the design. Subject to the scoping opinion and what the Scottish Government says we would then look towards the planning application stage and hold another public meeting. There could be three or four design changes.”

Asked what would happen if there was 100 per cent local opposition,

Mr Oldroyd said: “We are governed by national and local policy.”

Hands off Our Hills will stand united in fighting, it is our aim to stop any new proposed Wind Farms including the one at Glenvernoch from being consturcted within the Galloway Hills. Should you wish to get involved with our campaign please visit our contact page for further information.

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