WINDS OF CHANGE
HUNDREDS of people descended on Dalmellington’s Doon Academy last weekend to celebrate the construction of South Kyle Wind Farm.
Organised by developer Vattenfall, the free family fun day marked the inauguration of the 50-turbine renewable energy project with bouncy castles, soft play, a climbing tower, crafts, stalls and live music, plus shuttle-bus tours to the wind farm.
The wind farm will help in the production of Irn-Bru, and so more than 200 cans of the famed Scottish drink were handed out, courtesy of suppliers, AG Barr.
An estimated £38 million community fund from the wind farm will support people in the nearby area over the course of 25 years.
This support will help people to take ownership of local buildings, develop tourism and recreation and strengthen skills and resources to deliver a range of projects in the local community such as the purchase of a hotel and a bike track.
The community fun day followed the official inauguration of South Kyle Wind Farm by Vattenfall’s chief executive officer, Anna Borg, earlier last month, and comes three years after construction commenced.
South Kyle Wind Farm project director Paul Nickless said: “Thank you to everyone who joined us at the fun day.
“We were blown away by the attendance, and delighted to see so many people not only from the Dalmellington area but also from further afield in Ayrshire and from Carsphairn and elsewhere in Dumfries and Galloway.
“I’d also like to thank our hosts at Doon Academy and Doon Valley Leisure Centre and all the numerous organisations, vendors, suppliers, performers and local groups who took part and made the day so memorable.”
The fun day also displayed artwork by local children as part of a wind farm colouring-in competition. In all, 198 entries wer received from Dalmellington, Patna and St Xavier’s primary schools plus Carsphairn’s Bairns Banter group. Carol Kane, Vattenfall’s regional liaison officer for South West Scotland, added: “We absolutely loved all of the entries to our wind farm colouring-in competition, and were really impressed by the creativity, colour and ideas th children came up with.
“Their display at the fun day brought lots of colour and smiles, so a big thank-you from Vattenfall to all of the young people and schools who took part.”