The Blackcraig grid connection will be some 9.5km long, running from the proposed wind farm sub-station at Blackcraig Hill to the existing ScottishPower overhead line which runs through the Glenkens.

Meanwhile, the campaign group, Galloway Landscape and Renewable Energy, which has already voiced its opposition to Blackcraig, rejected pleas to give their support to a neighbouring scheme at Margree, Corsock.

Following “extensive local consultation and detailed survey work”, a decision was taken to place a short section of the Blackcraig connection underground where it crosses the A712, with the rest being carried on wooden poles.

John Thouless, SSE’s project manager for the wind farm and grid connection, said: “The planning process for the wind farm is in its final stages and, although the grid connection is subject to a separate planning process, we felt it was important to make clear our proposals for the grid connection prior to any decision on the wind farm.

“The connection is based on a wooden pole design which we have used successfully elsewhere and allows the line to be built relatively close to the ground and hugging the contours of the land.”

An environmental statement, which captures the results of over 12 months surveying along the corridor of the proposed route has been submitted in support of the application. Copies of the application and environmental statement have also been made available for public viewing.

Following last week’s appeal by North British Wind Power for support for their proposed site at Margree, local group Galloway Landscape and Renewable Energy issued a detailed response encapsulating their feelings about wind power overall.

NBWP last week asked for the support not just of the community, but of groups such as GLARE who are known for their vocal opposition to the Blackcraig site and who seem no more eager to support Margree, saying “Wetherhill is already one too many.”

Alison Chapman, Coordinator of GLARE, said this week: “In less than four years there have been four applications to build wind power stations in our area.”

GLARE was originally set up by concerned local residents, to investigate and evaluate the Section 36 application by Scottish and Southern Energy to erect 23 365-ft high wind turbines on the ridge known as Blackcraig by Balmaclellan.

Mrs Chapman continued: “In the time this application has been in process, ScottishPower has obtained consent to erect 14 wind turbines at Wether Hill near MoniaIve and these are even now being built.”

She added that this year, there were also the proposed sites at Margree, oppostie Blackcraig and a proposal for a larger application at Darngarroch near Corsock, which also lies nearby.

She added of the possible figures: “These giant turbines could amount to 211 megawatts and mean nothing less than the continuous industrialisation of our historic, beautiful, rural landscape over a ten mile area with all the attendant loss of habitats and wildlife and impact on our tourist industry.

“SPP6, the draft consultation document to which people should respond by October 6, makes it clear that the Scottish Executive is determined to maximise the 'dash for wind.”

She said: “GLARE calls on every resident who cares about our community, our countryside and our country to resist the imposition of this obsolescent technology and the industrialisation it would cause by responding to the SPP6 consultation document on www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/07/10/10150621/0.

She said she believed that any environmental gain in the reduction of CO2 was refuted by “numerous independent reports” that indicate turbines cannot be relied upon generate electricity without backup, and indeed could result in more CO2.

Mrs Chapman added: “In any case, even if all Scotland's electricity were generated by wind - a total impossibility - it would only amount to a saving in C02 emissions globally of 0.09% making the much vaunted targets rather academic.”

Meanwhile, a meeting was held at the Murray Arms in Gatehouse on Monday evening, to discuss the community benefit that would come with a wind turbine project.

Surveys have also been put out for return by mid-September.

Roland Chaplain, who is also a member of the Glenkens Sustainable Development group, said he sees the logic of a 60/40 split, but was disappointed with the turnout at Gatehouse, and encouraged more people to get involved.

The Sustainable Development Group are currently in discussion with Scottish and Southern Energy about having a stake in any Blackcraig site, which would run separately from the proposed community benefit plan.

But Mr Chaplin believes that the “whole communities and all stakeholder groups” should be consulted about community benefits - not just community councils.

He also urged local people to get involved, adding: “Elections take place in October and I think it is really important that people come forward, especially if community councils are going to have responsibility for this kind of money.”