Landowner warned huge wind farm will ‘poison waterways’

BRITAIN’S largest private landowner risks flooding waterways with poisonous lead if plans to build a huge wind farm go ahead, residents have warned.

The Duke of Buccleuch has proposed a large wind farm in south west Scotland but is facing fierce opposition from residents and politicians across the political divide.

Erecting 35 wind turbines on the hillsides between Sanquhar and Wanlockhead in Dumfries and Galloway will wreck the landscape, risk unearthing contamination from old lead mines and undermine plans for a community land buy-out, they say.

The accusations are denied by the Buccleuch estate, which says it has reduced the visual impact of the wind farm and will avoid contaminated areas. It argues that its plans pre-date the community buy-out.

The Duke has joined with a renewables company under the banner of the North Lowther Energy Initiative to apply for permission for a 151-megawatt wind farm. The application is currently being considered by the Scottish Government, which confirmed that it was undergoing consultations.

But leading SNP, Conservative and Labour MSPS have lodged forceful objections, as have community organisations and groups in Wanlockhead and Leadhills.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has also objected because it is worried that not enough has been done to prevent water contamination.

Joan Mcalpine, the SNP MSP for South Scotland, said: “The proposal to locate so many turbines in this area will irreversibly destroy its unique character.”

She shared community fears about contamination.

“I am also concerned that this community’s wishes are being dismissed by a powerful landowner,” she added.

Oliver Mundell, the Conservative MSP for Dumfriesshire, said: “The application is motivated solely by financial considerations on the part of the landowner and cannot be justified.”

The Duke argued that the development would bring major economic benefits to an area that badly needed it.

“The project will also deliver substantial habitat restoration,” said John Glen, the estate’s chief executive.