The Ministry of Defence wants red aviation lights fitted to wind turbines to help ensure the safety of air crew flying military aircraft

While Galloway Forest Park is celebrating its official confirmation as the first Dark Sky Park in the UK, there are concerns that in the Borders plans for more wind farms could see increased light pollution, writes Mark Entwistle.

Last week, Galloway Forest Park became only the fourth Dark Sky Park in the world and the first outside of the United States after the International Dark Sky Association confirmed Galloway as one of the best places for stargazing in the world.

Lighting experts were brought in to ensure the skies above the forest park were pitch black at night and the organisers of Galloway’s bid hope the award will boost tourism in south-west Scotland.

But dark skies, or the increasing lack of them, was also the subject of concern in the Borders this week when it emerged that if plans for 12 massive wind turbines proposed for a site on Minchmoor near Walkerburn get the go-ahead, defence officials want red aviation lighting on top of the structures.

The Ministry of Defence has informed Scottish Borders Council planning department that it has no objection to the application from Swedish energy giant Vattenfall for the Minchmoor site. But it wants red aviation lighting fitted to the most practical point as high up as possible on the 107m-tall structures if the application is approved.

All the lights bar one would measure 25 candela in brightness with the exception of the southern-most turbine, which would have to be fitted with a 200-candela light. This is because this turbine would be located very close to the entry to the Selkirk/Moffat Valley one-way system used by military aircraft.

As for a similar proposal at Whitton, near Morebattle – also from Vattenfall – the MoD has submitted a holding objection for the site as it is within the statutory safeguarded area for the seismological recording station at Eskdalemuir. But if the developer can overcome this objection, the MoD says it would then ask that these turbines are also fitted with aviation lighting.

Commenting on the issue, a Walkerburn resident told TheSouthern: “This would just be further industrialisation of Minchmoor.”

Vattenfall is Europe’s fifth largest electricity generator and the largest heat generator from a mix of hydroelectric power mainly located in northern Sweden, nuclear power at two plants in Sweden and at two plants in Germany, and gas and coal-based power in Germany and Poland.

Scottish Borders councillor Bill Herd, whose ward includes Walkerburn, says when it comes to such applications, every detail is considered.

“These lights would probably be flashing lights and that is something we would have to think about. But that would just be one aspect of the planning application that needs to be considered,” said Councillor Herd.

“The Ministry of Defence has a legitimate right to make such a request as it has a responsibility to ensure the safety of its personnel.
But I don’t really want to comment too much until it comes up for consideration at the planning committee.

“However, light pollution is an issue which occasionally comes up in planning applications and has to be considered along with everything else – and I would stress that councillors do listen to what local people have to say on such issues”.

But I don’t really want to comment too much until it comes up for consideration at the planning committee.

“However, light pollution is an issue which occasionally comes up in planning applications and has to be considered along with everything else – and I would stress that councillors do listen to what local people have to say on such issues”.