DTBHP
Ditch the Blair Hill Project
Ditch the Blair Hill Project (DTBHP) is a local group opposed to the siting of 22 giant wind turbines on Blair Hill, 2 miles north of Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway.
The developers RES propose to construct a large windfarm of 250m turbines close to, and in full view of the 4,000 people who live in Newton Stewart, the main town of the area, this is unacceptable to us.
Who We Are
At 250m tall, each of these 22 turbines would be almost twice as tall as the Blackpool Tower. They will dominate Newton Stewart and the surrounding hills.
What would these turbines look like in our landscape?
The picture on the right shows our artist's impression of the visual impact on the view from just above the Douglas Ewart High School.
Are We Against All Wind Farms? No.
Currently, there are already 200 large industrial wind turbines situated in our local council ward, Mid Galloway and Wigtown West. Little objection was raised to them because they are located in the sparsely populated, featureless landscape of Sitka spruce plantations ten miles northwest of where most local people live. Another 60 turbines have gained planning approval in the same area, again with little objection .
We understand the need for wind farms and aren't opposed to more being built in our backyard.
Are We Against Wind Farms
in Our Front Room? Yes.
Unlike the existing industrial wind turbines in our area, the turbines of the Blair Hill Project are not destined for our backyard. They are set to rise slap bang next to us and tower over Newton Stewart. They will blight our local walks, take away our places of retreat, and rob us of the chance to find peace and quiet..
The Blair Hill Project is intent on squeezing itself into our front room. We will not allow it to go ahead.
The landscape of the Cree Valley around Newton Stewart has remained unspoiled by industrial development. Newton Stewart is often called the "Gateway to the Galloway Hills." Destroying a beautiful natural landscape by smothering it with giant industrial wind turbines on the grounds that such sacrifices are necessary to stop climate change is not credible as public policy. We will not save the planet for our grandchildren by building over the most scenic parts of it -- places that our grandparents toiled to protect.
Do local communities have a right to beauty? A growing chorus of voices say we do.
A community right to beauty - Scottish Community Alliance
A Community Right to Beauty
“ If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them something more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through it.” - Lyndon Johnson
It is important to take action and make our voices heard at the points in the process when they can be most effective. Opinions need to be directed at the right people at the right time. If you would like us to alert you when it is time to take action and what you can do, please submit your email.
What You Can Do
“ I accept that windfarm's will be part of our landscape until such time as technology and wisdom replaces this invasive means of power production. What I simply can't accept is their being placed in our most iconic landscapes. This proposal is nothing short of an abomination and must be resisted at all costs.
If given permission, this scheme will scar and destroy our wonderful Deer Park and surrounding area, which has nurtured and delighted generations of Gallovidians , as well as countless visitors to our area. The peace and tranquility of that entire area, which has been so precious to those of us lucky enough to be brought up with it as our backdrop will be taken from us, and from those who will follow us. It must be denied at all costs."
Lex Muir
What Local People Say
“Growing up in Galloway gave me a great freedom to enjoy it's wild places. After leaving to study and work abroad for many years, it was an easy choice to choose our overlooked corner of the world to set up a new business. Why? Because our home has an unmatched character that offers all of Scotland’s beauty in one place. Please join us in protecting this special place for us and future generations to come.”
Graham Taylor, Crafty Distillery
“ In an increasingly crowded and frenetic world, we need places like Blair Hill, places of quietness and solitude, open spaces rich in nature and wildlife where we can go to escape the pressures of modern life. We know such places are of huge benefit to both our physical and mental health, especially when, like Blair Hill, they are right on our doorstep. And yet, these places are under threat like never before, and at a time when there has never been a greater need to protect and conserve the natural world. It beggars belief that there are those who would so willingly destroy our natural heritage purely for financial gain.”
Dr. David Baird
“A river runs through me, the River Cree. My thoughts flow upstream from Carsluith, across to Wigtown, down from the top of Clary Hill, round silvery meanders watched over by Cairnsmore, soaring above drystone dyked fields of cattle and sheep, under the the Cree Brig, and past Monigaff Kirk, where my forefolks lie. And then it lifts skywards over the Deer Park, looking down on oak woods, flowing up the Palnure, the Penkiln, and the Minnoch, before rising over Drannandow , to soar above the dark and ancient Gaelic hills of Drigmorn, Lamachan, and Curleywee, to its source amongst the wildness around Loch Trool, Loch Enoch, and Loch Dee.
The Blair Hill Wind Farm is a plan to build a two mile long, 850ft tall barrier across my history and my imagination in order to allow the multi-millionaire McAlpine family from Hertfordshire to move a few places up the Sunday Times rich list.”
Iain Service
“ We have lived and worked in Wigtownshire our whole lives. Our wee unspoilt corner of the world is precious to us. We brought up our three children here and they all still love to come home to visit . They always say how lucky we are to have such beautiful views and a great community . We are not against wind farms , we understand they are needed for energy but we are saying not on Blair Hill . Why, because Blair Hill is far too close to our homes. We love to go for walks in and around the town and up into the hills. We simply don’t want to look at and hear turbines all around us, all the time
So we ask the good people of Wigtownshire to get together and stop these monstrosities from being put up so close to Minnigaff . “
Lizzy and Colin Bennewith
