Lammermuir Hills wind farm backers defend scheme

The company behind plans for a 48-turbine wind farm in the Lammermuir Hills has spoken out to defend the scheme.

Opponents to North British Wind Power's (NBWP) project at Fallago Rig have announced a protest march for 12 June.

However, a NBWP spokesman claimed the campaigners had "lost sight of the key objective - to deliver clean, renewable energy".

A decision is expected from the Scottish government later this month.

The Say No To Fallago group confirmed earlier this week that botanist Prof David Bellamy was set to join their march.

He said he was moved by their "genuine passion" for a "unique, magnificent natural landscape".

A NBWP spokesman said there had been plenty of opportunity throughout the planning process for objectors to make their case.

He said: "For opponents to claim that they have been excluded or ignored could not be further from the truth."

He added that the Fallago Rig scheme could meet the renewable energy needs of up to 80,000 homes and would contribute £240,000-a-year for 25 years to an environmental fund for the area.

The company spokesman also claimed the project would have "very little impact" on any village or settlement in the area.

He accused the protesters of "whipping up emotion through the media" and said NBWP would now await the decision of Scottish ministers as part of the "normal democratic process".