Campaigners have hit out at an energy firm for a windfarm development that is “essentially the same” as one rejected earlier this year.
Energiekontor saw its bid to build nine, 200m tall turbines at Garcrogo near Corsock thrown out by the Scottish Government in August.
The firm has now lodged a new application with the council – again for nine turbines, but this time with a reduced maximum height of 180m.
That has attracted the ire of some local residents, including Trevor and Elaine Procter of the Help Save Mochrum Fell group, which successfully saw off a separate windfarm development last month.
They said: “As stated by Energiekontor, this application is a resubmission of the previously refused application and seeks to address the reasons for refusal by reducing the height of the proposed turbines from 200m to 180m.
“The new application is the same as Garcrogo 1 which was dismissed due to landscape and visual impacts – the reduction in height by a mere 10 per cent does nothing to ameliorate these significant adverse impacts.
“To add insult to injury Energiekontor have claimed a ‘free go’ application without any fees and Dumfries and Galloway Council appear to have accepted this as the application has been validated. Energiekontor will have incurred very few costs with this new application as it is essentially the same.
“A dismissal at appeal should not allow any re-application but should be final.”
The Procters say they have contacted a planning expert who helped with their opposition to Mochrum Fell. He believes that if the application is accepted, the objections and support to the previous scheme should be carried over.
A council spokeswoman said: “The revised application is for a windfarm development with turbines of a reduced height from those that were previously refused on appeal. Having considered the relevant legislation, the council concluded that it was required to register this new application. However, the planning merits of the proposed development will be fully considered in the assessment of the application.”
