3rd May 2024 

The Blair Hill developers RES are holding the second round of Public exhibitions where the final plans for the windfarm will be shown . The planning process requires this to happen before the formal planning application is submitted. They are supposedly public consultation events. It is important that as many people as possible attend these exhibitions and let the developers know the strength of their opposition to the plans.

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DATES AND TIMES OF PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS

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Tuesday 21st May : 3pm-8pm MacMillan Hall , Newton Stewart 

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Wednesday 22nd May: 3pm-8pm St Couans Hall, Kirkcowan 

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There is no exhibition planned for Wigtown despite the best efforts of DTBHP.  

 

PLEASE find the time to go to either exhibition . This will be your last chance to let RES know how you feel before they submit the planning application this summer.

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Email correspondence with RES about Public Exhibitions is below: 

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18/4/24 

Dear Sarah 

In my role as chair of the Blair Hill Community Liaison Group I find it unacceptable  that RES made no attempt to consult the Community Liaison Group, before deciding on all of  the arrangements  for the second round of public exhibitions required in the  pre-planning application process. 

 

Rather than being given the opportunity to liaise, the CLG were presented with a fait accompli at our 9th April meeting. We were informed that the decision had been taken to hold two exhibitions, in Newton Stewart on 21st May and Kirkcowan on the 22nd May  rather than in Newton Stewart and Wigtown, where the first round of public exhibitions were held. The reason given by RES was that Wigtown County Buildings were unavailable on the 22nd May. 

 

The times, dates, and venues for the exhibitions should,  at the very least, have been discussed with the CLG before RES made the final decision to avoid Wigtown. An alternative date could have been chosen or an alternative venue in Wigtown could have been found. As things stand, with Kirkcowan replacing Wigtown, fewer members of the local community will find it convenient to travel to attend the exhibition. This is unacceptable and is unnecessary. 

 

The planned public exhibition in Kirkcowan on 22nd  May should be cancelled and rescheduled for Wigtown 

Cont…… 

 

 

23/4/24 

Dear Iain, 

Thank you for your email. 

I note your comments with regards to consultation with the CLG on the exhibitions, however it’s important to clarify the understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the CLG established at our initial meeting.  

During that session, we agreed that members would feed into the material presented at the exhibitions. We did not agree that CLG members would be consulted on the dates for these exhibitions, and this was never raised by members. Furthermore, I also believe it important to note the objectives of the CLG are to provide a forum for discussion and exchange of information, as well as to create an effective channel of communication between RES, the local community and stakeholders. When the need for quorum was discussed at the inaugural meeting, it was agreed that the CLG is not a decision-making body. 

  

For these reasons the public exhibitions on both the 21st and 22nd will proceed as planned. We will however, explore the possibility of holding some shorter information sessions in Wigtown when the application is submitted. 

  

RES consider that meetings have been productive for all parties thus far and are committed to them continuing, however it must be in support of the above objectives. 

Cont………… 

 

26/4/24 

Good morning Sarah  

Thank you for your reply.  

We seem to be in complete agreement as what the role of the CLG is, the point at issue here, is that no discussion took place and no information was exchanged before RES decided not to hold a second public exhibition in Wigtown. There was no liaison at all.  

 

It may be productive for RES to claim that meetings have been productive for all parties but, with the exception of the presentation by Beth from HES, the meetings have yielded nothing. The grid question remains unanswered.  

Cont………