DEVELOPERS behind Scoop Hill windfarm have pledged to build a swimming pool in Moffat if the project is given the go-ahead.
Community Windpower Limited (CWL), which awaits a decision from the Scottish Government on its plans to construct one of the UK’s biggest windfarms in the Moffat Hills, revealed the winner of the Scoop Hill Community Asset Competition this week.
It announced in a statement that townspeople submitted “wide variety of ideas” on what funds generated by the proposed 75 turbines could pay for, but said that the most popular was a new leisure centre.
This was followed by the suggestion of a pump track, which CWL has committed to support the funding of regardless of Scoop Hill’s approval, and an outdoor weatherproof structure for markets.
Steve Millburn, senior project manager at Community Windpower said: “We are delighted to announce the winning asset idea is a swimming pool.”
Moffat Academy pupil, 12-year-old Lauren Gourley, was unveiled as the competition’s winner on Tuesday and handed a top of the range electric mountain bike for her entry.
Mr Millburn added: “Our winner, Lauren Gourley, submitted a brilliant illustration of her ideal swimming pool and is a well-deserved winner of our electric bike. We would also like to thank every entrant who took the time to contact us with an asset idea.
“We look forward to consulting with the community further and developing the asset to deliver a swimming pool for Moffat and the surrounding area.”
Moffat and District Community Council chairman Leys Geddes said he would “love to have a swimming pool” in the town but added that it “isn’t appropriate” to discuss community benefits whilst consultations are ongoing.
Furthermore, Jan Andrews, chairwoman of Lockerbie Community Council, questioned how other towns and villages nearby would be compensated.
She said: “What are they offering the rest of the community councils Scoop Hill is affecting?”
Plans to build a swimming pool in Lockerbie using air disaster donations fell-through in 2018 following almost three decades of discussion and planning.
Ms Andrews added: “If they’re going to offer a substantial amount like that – because we’re talking a substantial amount of money – what would they be offering the rest of the communities that are involved with the impact to the wind farm?”
