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Posted 07-12-08 Wind Farm
Scottish Government has given the go ahead for a 22-turbine wind farm at Drone Hill on Coldingham Moor.
Scottish Government Reporter Malcolm Mahony has overturned Scottish Borders Council's original refusal of the turbine wind farm, after PM Renewables appealed against the decision.

 In his report, Mr Mahony quoted the Scottish Government's Renewable Energy Technologies paper of 2002, and concluded: "Given the Scottish Ministers' commitment to addressing the important issue of climate change ... it is important for society at large to accept them (wind farms) as a feature of many areas of Scotland for the foreseeable future."

Mr Mahony's reasons for supporting the proposal included Scottish Natural Heritage earmarking Coldingham Moor as a 'Zone 1' area, meaning it provided the greatest opportunity for wind farm development.
 The fear among local groups for the negative effect on tourism was tempered by Mr Mahony, who said VisitScotland had not objected and the reduction of the turbines from 102 metres in the original application to 76 metres meant the wind farm would not be seen at the 'sensitive and popular' St Abbs Head nature reserve.

PM Renewables originally applied for permission to build 16 turbines at 102 metres in March 2005 on Drone Hill, under four miles from Coldingham village.
They were then forced to change their proposal in 2007 to 22 turbines at 76m because of opposition from aviation safety experts.
By Kenny Paterson