Paul's Hill — Save Wild Moray

Paul’s Hill 2

Pauls Hill 2 is another proposed development from Fred Olsen Renewables who are also trying to expand their neighbouring Rothes development. Both form part of the massive 300 turbine Upper Lossie Wind Farm - including Clashgour, Berryburn 1 & 2, Rothes 1, 2 &3, Hill of Claschyle, Kellas, Meikle Hill & Ourok - within a few miles of the headwaters of the Lossie & Findhorn - two of Morays most iconic rivers. Pauls Hill already dominates the Spey Valley and this extension will further exacerbate the damage to this iconic wild area, a critical element of Morays important tourism industry.

Feeding the money machine. In the first half of 2020 the original Pauls Hill 1 development received almost £1.3 million in Constraint Payments - NOT to produce power. Just a fraction of the Public money poured into this foreign owned commercial venture which in 2018 made profits of more than £4.5 million for its local land owners and foreign owners.

The Pauls Hill enquiry has now concluded and the final decision will depend on the Reporter and the Scottish Government. The first session including Landscape, Visual and Socio Environmental Impact made for a depressing spectacle, with Big Business trying to squash local individuals and small business owners who’s homes & livelihoods risk being blighted by the next unnecessary Wind Industry profit machine. The Noise hearing and final submissions followed a similar pattern, with the developers trying very hard to exclude critical information on Pauls Hill 1, where they have effectively admitted to breaching permitted noise levels. It became very technical and to an amateur observer it certainly appeared that Fred Olsen were trying every trick in the legal handbook to ensure the true noise threats from Pauls Hill 2 were being obscured. How do these people sleep at night?

Fred Olsens Rothes 1 & 2 development. Ugly during the day and with turbine lights & warehouse stores lighting up the night

Clashgour area sits directly between Pauls Hill, Rothes & Berry Burn

Impression of the proposed Clashgour development from the Cross of Knockando, within meters of the proposed Paul's Hill extension (Force 9 Energy image)

Who’s behind the Pauls Hill 2 Development

Fred Olsen Renewables are behind Pauls Hill 1 & 2 as well as Rothes 1 & 2, with a proposal for Rothes 3 also in scoping. A massive foreign corporation, they clearly have it in for Moray whilst being dismissive in the extreme about their obligations towards community compensation for the damage they’re inflicting on our area.

This development is being made possible by the collaboration of Ballindalloch Estate or some element of it.

The most directly affected Community Councils are Heldon & Speyside

The Moray Councillors for the Paul’s Hill area are Derek Ross & Louise Laing

The Save Wild Moray team can be contacted on: hub@savewildmoray.com