A BORDERS resident says they are “worried” about plans to build a wind farm near their home.

Last month, this newspaper reported that E Power Limited will apply for planning permission to build the farm at Ditcher Law north of Oxton.

But now a village resident says the proposal to build 15 wind turbines is “not really suitable” for the area.

“These [proposed] turbines are huge," said the resident, who we have granted anonymity.

"The height will be more than half the height of a munro,” they said, adding that the Ditcher Law site is already around 300 metres high.

“At 220 metres it would be an enormous structure. They are really going to stick out. It would completely dominate this local area.”

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Scottish Power got permission to extend the Dun Law wind farm by 35 turbines in 2007, adding to the 26 already there.

The additional Dun Law turbines stand at 75 metres high, meaning the ones proposed for Ditcher Law would be more than double the size, which has left the resident feeling “concerned”.

“I live here with my family and I’m worried,” they said. “The height of these things, they would have to have aviation lights put on them.

“I’m concerned,” the resident added. “It’s a pretty unique area where we are here. We have had no notice of this development. I know it’s very early days, but I think we were hoping to have some sort of notice.

“It’s a very significant development. We have this view around the community.

“Obviously I think it is important that we are looking at alternative sources of electricity but you have to look at the area.

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“At this size they should be in remote areas where there are no people or they should be offshore.”

The resident says they want to “make sure people are aware of the development”, with the issue to be discussed at an Oxton and Channelkirk Community Council meeting on January 5, 2021.

The proposals are to be dealt with by the Scottish Government rather than Scottish Borders Council due to the size of the turbines.

According to the resident, the government’s Energy Consents Unit will issue its scoping opinion by February “at the latest”.

The resident added: “Any concerned local residents should register their concerns at this stage with their representative consultee council body for that to be fed into the Energy Consent Unit.”