A public inquiry to be held into windfarm plans

Campaign groups set-up to fight the proposals are delighted with decision

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Members of Hands Off Our Hills outside the council headquarters in Dumfries yesterday

The Scottish Government will have the final say on controversial plans for a windfarm in Galloway after councillors agreed to trigger a public inquiry yesterday.

Campaigners against Renewable Energy Systems’ proposal to build 14 turbines as tall as 250m at Blair Hill, a few miles north of Minnigaff, are delighted at the news.

They held a peaceful protest outside the council headquarters in Dumfries before the planning applications committee took place where councillors were asked to lodge an objection to the plans with the Scottish Government.

RES originally wanted to build 22 turbines, however paper revealed the plan is now for 14 turbines - 12 as tall as 250m.

The remaining two would be 210m tall.

Case officer Neil Simpson said that the scheme would provide “significant and positive contribution” to Scotland's renewable energy targets.