GOLFERS were shocked when they saw how huge the wind turbines would be if a windfarm is allowed to be built less than a mile from where they play.

Competitors in the Rotary Am/Am competition played over Balfron Golf Society’s Shian Golf Course, on Saturday saw posters erected at the 14th tee showing how much bigger one of the wind turbines would be compared to the Wallace Monument in Stirling, Nelson’s Column, in London, the Statue of Liberty in New York and 28 double-decker buses piled on top of one another.

Campaigners against proposals to build a windfarm on Ballindalloch Muir, in West Stirlingshire also flew two helium balloons 125 metres in the air to show the height of one of the nine turbines. And they say the turbines will be among the highest ever built in Scotland.

Energy giant, npower renewables want to build nine 125-metres high wind turbines a mile-and-a-half east of Balfron and south of Buchlyvie. But villagers have formed EVAG - Endrick Valley Action Group – to fight the windfarm proposals, which they say will have a negative visual impact on the countryside.

Campaigners also fear low-frequency noise from the windfarm could affect the health of more than 1000 youngsters who attend the local nursery, primary and secondary schools in Balfron less than a mile-and-a-half away. And they point to npower’s own website which shows on a map that the schools will be affected by the noise from the turbines.

Balfron Golfing Society member, Jack Currie, from Ballat, Stirlingshire said after seeing the posters and helium balloons: “We are all really surprised and shocked at the height these things are going to be. The turbines planned for Ballindalloch are even bigger than the ones at Braes of Doune.

“The wind turbines are going to be a blot on the landscape and you’ve also got the continuous noise coming from them when the blades are turning.

“The windfarm is a horrendous prospect and there are a lot of people in Balfron who are upset and against this happening.”

On Saturday, EVAG campaigner, Gary Scott, told golfers of npower’s plans. He said: “The proposed wind turbines will be a blight on our countryside and everyone I spoke to was against the windfarm at Ballindalloch.

“They were shocked when they realised just how big the turbines would be. These monstrosities will be seen for miles and miles around spoiling the view from many beauty and well-known tourists spots in Stirlingshire.

“Support for our campaign is growing every day now that we have been able to let people know just how damaging this windfarm – or electricity generating factory as we should be calling it – will be to our countryside and communities.”

A planning application for the windfarm is likely to be submitted to Stirling Council next month.
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