Hill Rig Windfarm is thrown out by council planners

At a meeting of the council’s planning committee on Tuesday morning, the Hill Rig Windfarm proposal by Community Windpower Ltd was kicked into touch by councillors – delighting many locals.

There were more than 230 letters of objection to the plans which would have seen the erection of eight turbines measuring 130 metres in height, roughly the size of the Forth Road Bridge.

In the conclusion of his report, the council’s community and enterprise resources executive director Colin McDowall said: “Consideration has been given to the benefits of the proposal, including contribution of community benefit, contribution to renewable energy targets and to reducing carbon emissions.

“However, given the already extensive windfarm development to the north and north east of the proposed development and the number of single and two turbine developments in the surrounding area, together with the dominating visual impact on settlements and surrounding properties, it is considered that the site is unsuitable for the proposed windfarm development.”