CONCERNS over the ability of the Borders to host more wind farm developments will be conveyed directly to Scottish Government officials later this month.
The Peeblesshire News can reveal that Scottish Borders Council is to host a high level wind farm strategy meeting at Newtown on Tuesday, October 21.
Although the agenda has yet to be set, the summit will be attended by planning officers from the council, Historic Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Government.
The meeting comes in response to a motion which the council unanimously approved in May.
It called for SBC leader David Parker to write to Fergus Ewing MSP, the minister for energy, enterprise and tourism “expressing concern over the conflict between the sustainability of Scottish Government renewable energy targets and their impact on Scottish Borders landscapes, being mindful of the present impact of wind turbines in this area”.
The letter also called for the Scottish Government, which wants all energy produced by renewable sources by 2020, to respect the council’s planning policy “as the best method for balancing landscape protection with appropriate developments”.
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