In accordance with tried and tested methodology the developer GreenPower has submitted photomontages to Scottish Borders Council which in our view completely understate the visual impact of the development. Also significantly absent from the ES is a view showing the turbines in relation to the entire settlement of Yarrowford, the community which is most seriously affected by the proposal.

Developers almost always use a 50mm lens, which gives a wider angled view than that which the human eye would see; significantly 'flattening' the image. This leads to tall objects, such as turbines, appearing to be smaller than they actually are. Many commentators have observed once a wind factory is built: "Oh, I didn't think they were going to be that big..."

BAG has commissioned its own photomontages which, we feel, are more representative of how the wind factory will look.

Methodology: We used a high quality digital camera with a 70mm lens. This gives a image which is much closer to what the human eye will perceive. Specialist software is used to scale turbines and locate them according to the plans submitted by the applicant(s). The images below will give you an idea of how the 2 wind factories might look.

Note: The highest resolution images suitable for 1280x1024 pixel displays might take 5 minutes to download to a browser, even with broadband. For this reason we have reduced the resolution to something that is suitable for the average 15" monitor and low speed connection. If there is sufficient interest we can put up the higher resolution images; send mail via the Contact page.

To view an enlarged image, just click on it.

View from the Three Brethren		View from Selkirk Golf Course (8km)
From A72 roundabout at Clovenfords		From the North Lodge, Yarrowford
From A72 at Caddonlee, west of Clovenfords		From the Duchess Summer House, Bowhill
Broadmeadows from the Duchess Drive		Minch Moor from the Duchess Drive