CAMPAIGNERS fighting over 250 wind-farm projects across Scotland yesterday hailed the rejection of Perthshire’s first wind farm application as a victory for common sense.

Speaking after the decision Dr Brendan Hamill, convener of the Scottish Wind Watch group, said, “I am very pleased for the people of Bridge of Cally and Alyth that the councillors have exercised common sense in reaching this decision.

“The applicant’s data on the hydrogeology of the area was very sketchy and these turbines presented a real threat of depriving many residents of possibly the most fundamental essential of human life— access to a safe and secure water supply.”

Meanwhile, Sylvia Thorne, secretary of local campaign group NOD (Not On Drumderg) was also in celebratory mood.

NOD has been fighting the proposals for over two years.

“This decision comes as a breath of fresh air after a long period of struggling to get our arguments across to the planners and councillors,” she remarked.

“I hope it is a good omen for the future of the multiple applications for wind projects across Perthshire and Scotland. What we need above all is some joined-up thinking from the Scottish Executive to devise a national energy strategy rather than simply rubber-stamping wind power projects.

“More and more people are realising this is not going to cut carbon dioxide emissions but will destroy the Scottish landscape if we don’t act now.”

Scottish Wind Assessment Project’s Angus MacDonald said, “There was a very substantial local presence at the meeting who voiced a number of well-argued concerns to councillors about this application.

“While local concerns are very real, the macro issues such as the negative effect on tourism and house prices, as well as the lack of a positive reduction on CO2 emissions and the huge costs to the consumer are also a real concern.

“The fact is they are a blot on our landscape, they are hugely expensive and they don’t work.

“The Government’s drive for wind power is just so they can be seen to tick the green box.”