A group of anti-wind farm protestors fighting plans for a dozen turbines near Elgin lodged a petition containing the signatures of more 1,000 objectors yesterday.
Edinburgh-based green energy firm Vento Ludens’s original proposal for Brown Muir attracted fierce opposition from the public, with more than 2,000 objections to the original planning application and only 10 letters of support.
They withdrew the application in August and submitted a revised plan in October, with the number of turbines reduced from 19 to 12 on the south east of the site.
But objectors are still against the scheme, amid concerns about the impact it would have on the landmark site.
Save the Brown Muir Action Group campaigner Derrick Ross said: “We have 1,037 individual letters of objection, which have been added to the approximate 170 already registered on the planning website.
“As far as we know, it’s the highest number of individual letters against a planning application in Moray.
“Obviously, we would like to thank everyone once again who has joined us in the campaign against a wind farm power station on Brown Muir — an iconic landmark hill that overlooks the whole of Moray.
“It’s individuals who have been involved with this campaign and funded it with their own pockets.
“We have submitted our own objections today. If this project goes ahead, the iconic wild life including ospreys and wildcats that may disappear if we continue to ruin these landscapes.
“Glen Rothes is a lovely area. To do this would just ruin it.”
Lhanbryde resident George Herraghty, an outspoken opponent of wind farms, said: “As a member of the Brown Muir group, I’m horrified. This is just a money making exercise. This is not about green energy.”
Mike Kelly, head of development at Vento Ludens said he was optimistic about the new scheme, despite the objections.
He said: “We are pleased to have far fewer objections to the new Brown Muir wind farm design. It was also encouraging to see the comments from Elgin Community Council who are much more supportive of the new scheme.
“This is particularly welcomed given the misleading information which is being distributed about the project. We hope the council will bear in mind, when considering these representations, that they have been gathered by the anti-group on the basis of inaccurate and misleading information.”