Published: Thursday, 3rd September, 2009 8:41am

NEW WIND FARM PLANS MET WITH MIXED FEELINGS

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PLANS for an £8m wind farm in Neilston have been met with a mixed response.

One angry resident fears the proposals will ruin a spot which is used regularly by walkers from in and around Neilston.

And the Barrhead man has warned people in the community not to only support the plans because of cash incentives for the area.

He told the News: "I am not against all wind farms but I don't think they should build one where they are proposing, it will ruin the landscape.

"There are places with bleak moor land where nobody goes that could be used for this.

"The reason the developers want to put them up in Neilston is because of the pylon lines as they can hook the turbines up to them which makes it much cheaper.

"I was speaking to someone from Neilston recently and she was livid at the possibility of a wind farm because it would be right in front of her house.

"Developers will want to put the turbines up as high as possible to attract the wind and if this is the case then they will be seen for miles.

He added: "If there wasn't the chance to raise money for the community do you think there would be people supporting this? I really don't think so.

"And what are they going to do with this money if it does come and who will make the decision of how it gets used?

"If there was no money involved there would be no reason for the community to back this but if you flash a £1m cheque in front of people then concerns for the countryside are lost."

The News revealed last month how the Neilston Development Trust (NDT) has joined forces with Carbon Free Developments to propose the development of a three turbine community wind farm.

Both groups insist if it gets the go ahead then the NDT would have the option to own approximately half of the wind farm over its 25-year life.

Alan Walker, chairperson of NDT, is hoping the plans will get the go ahead.

He said: "It is our hope that Neilston will embrace the opportunity before us as the wind farm can provide key funding for the delivery of the community projects outlined in the recently ratified Neilston Renaissance Town Charter.

"This proposal presents an opportunity for Neilston to become an exemplar of ways in which communities can both reduce carbon emissions and regenerate the local area."