Government inquiry into Girthgate wind farm plans

Councillors in the Borders agreed to object to plans for 24 turbines between Lauder and Stow

An inquiry into plans to build 24 wind turbines in the Scottish Borders will be held in September.

Community Windpower wants to build the 125m-high structures between Stow and Lauder, at Girthgate.

Scottish Borders Council has opposed the application and it has been referred to the Scottish government's directorate of planning appeals.

A five-day appeal hearing will be held at The Lodge at Carfraemill, Lauder, from 7 September.

It will consider landscape and visual impact, archaeology and cultural heritage, national energy and planning policies, and the conditions and legal agreements.

Meanwhile, controversial plans for an eight-turbine wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway have been refused by councillors.

Falck Renewables Wind Limited wanted to build the wind farm at Mochrum Fell, west of Corsock and north-east of Parton, but about 600 people lodged objections.

Members of the planning applications committee rejected the plans at a meeting on Wednesday.