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Glen Isla wind turbine at centre of wildcat row almost ready to spin

Preparatory works for the turbine at Glen Isla.
Preparatory works for the turbine at Glen Isla.

An Angus turbine at the centre of a wildcat conservation row will be fully installed and generating before Christmas.

The Glen Isla project is being developed by Alastair and Diane Ramsay, who own Wester Derry Farm at Kilry.

The turbine tower is now in place and the blades are being put on.

The project will be only the second wholly cooperatively-owned wind turbine project in Scotland.

Members of the public are invited to join the cooperative by buying shares for between £250 and £100,000.

The cooperative, being developed in collaboration with Sharenergy, will contribute an estimated £4,500 annually to community funds.

Jon Halle, of Sharenergy, told The Courier: “We plan to be generating well in time for Christmas and to join the push to get Scotland to 50% renewable electricity by next year we are well on track.”

Earlier this month 49 people in Kilry signed a letter calling for work to halt because “the site is a wildcat haven”.

Resident Helen Douglas said eight people in Kilry reported seeing a wildcat or kitten around the site before planning permission was approved.

Mr Halle rejected the claims and said the work would not be proceeding if it would affect the habitat of an endangered species.

He said there are now 196 members of the co-op.

Mr Halle added: “At the time of writing there are approximately 25,000 shares left.

“Shares are sold on a first come, first served basis but we’d very much like the remaining shares to go to local people.”

He added: “All members get a single vote, regardless of the amount of shares they buy. They will get to co-own the turbine, generate green power and receive a good return, estimated at 6.5%.

“Wester Derry Wind Co-op will contribute to a community fund estimated at nearly £5,000 per year, which is divided between two local schools.

“This is some six times larger, proportionally, than community funds paid out by commercial windfarms.”

A survey by Scottish Natural Heritage found no evidence of wildcats using the area before planning permission was approved.