SCOTTISH Borders Council has objected to plans for large wind farm near Tweedsmuir.

With a generating capacity of 50.4MW, consent for the 14 turbines proposed for Whitelaw Brae is in the gift of the Energy Consents and Deployment Unit (ECDU) of Scottish Government.

The council, which determines applications for wind farm with an output of less than 50MW, is thus considered a statutory consultee in the planning process But by objecting in the strongest terms of Monday, SBC’s planning committee ensured that a public enquiry will now be held to determine the bid by the Whitelaw Brae Wind Farm Ltd.

The committee heard from senior planning officer Ian Aikman that the unspoiled, remote character of 23.7 hectare site, between Fruid Reservoir and the main A701 Dumfries to Edinburgh road, would “change dramatically” if the development was permitted.

He highlighted the site’s proximity to the Tweedsmuir Hill Special Landscape Area to the north and the Talla/Hart Fell Wild Land area to the east and claimed that the turbines would be clearly seen along a 20km stretch of the A701 tourist route.

He said the wind farm would have a “significant impact” on these areas.

Mr Aikman contended that the site was not a natural extension of windfarms across the South Lanarkshire border and at Glenkerie near Biggar and that the turbines, each 133 metres high, would set a precedent for “further inappropriate intrusion”.

The committee heard the ECDU had already received 49 submissions of objection – and no letters of support – for the application.