THE MET MAST HANGS IN THE BALANCE

An industrial wind farm starts with a single mast.

UPDATE FROM the PLANNING MEETING AT Dumfries and Galloway Council re Met Mast Application 26/0952/FUL, Craes Hill, thursday 27th august 2026.

As you know, the met mast application, being the pre-cursor to the likely windfarm application, was heard at planning committee today. After the case officer presented his report, four of our community spoke eloquently and passionately to amplify many of the 115 objectors’ relevant concerns pertaining to the application. The agent for the developer, was also given the opportunity to speak.

The committee members listened closely to all submissions, and many relevant questions were asked to all of the case officer, the objectors and the applicant’s agent.

Very encouragingly, many of the councillors on committee had a firm grasp of not only the environmental impact and the deficiencies in the applicant’s approach, but also the inherent and undisputed interconnectivity between the enabling aspect of the met mast application and the imminent following windfarm application. The applicant’s agent himself said under questioning that every met mast application he has dealt with over the last 30 years has followed with a wind farm application, proving without a shadow of a doubt that the two are directly linked, i.e. none are abandoned after a met mast data result. The fact that they will intend to apply for a wind farm very soon, i.e. well before any met mast data can be gathered and analysed, rides a cart and horse though any assertion that the two are unrelated.

As an outcome, we are pleased to say that sufficient concern amongst councillors led to them deciding that a site visit by committee was required to understand and appreciate the extreme sensitivity of the site. There was also a strong understanding by many members of committee that the met mast was indeed inextricably linked to the windfarm itself.

An interesting day for us to witness democracy in action, to witness the dedication and attention of committee members who care to consider and understand the intricacies of each individual planning case (especially deep into a long morning when many other applications were debated in detail) and for us all to see that the absolute necessity for a moratorium on windfarms is an essential next step for the Scottish Government to take.

We do not yet know when the site visit will take place, but can only hope it coincides with a beautiful sunny day that showcases Glencairn in all its glory.

LEAVE OUR HILLS ALONE

115 objections have already been lodged. The community has been clear. Now the councillors need to hear it. Read and sign our open letter to the council: https://c.org/9hXm6RzbNv

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