Campaigners against windfarms fear developers are “running rings around” planning officials as they bid to build taller turbines.
Save Our Hills has found a number of examples of developments in the Glenkens where firms were given planning permission, then lodged a new application for bigger turbines.
The most recent example was at Glenshimmeroch near Dalry. Having been given permission for 150m tall turbines in 2019, developers have now won approval from the Scottish Government for turbines as tall as 180m.
Save Our Hills spokesman, Iain Milligan, said: “It’s pretty clear what the game is here.
“Get planning permission for one thing, then nudge up the scale in the hope that decision-makers will simply accept the new plan on the basis of approving of the old.
“If it’s happening here, it’s bound to be happening elsewhere too.
“Developers are running rings around council and Scottish Government planning officials.
“But they need to remember that all of these applications were granted permission in the face of significant local protest.
“It’s clearly wrong to then ignore that feeling and actually make things worse with much taller turbines.
“Often that results in previously completely dark skies being illuminated by intrusive and irritating lights.”
