Five voluntary teams from Moffat and District Community Council (MDCC) hit the streets to knock on doors to find out if townsfolk are in favour or opposed to the development.
And a total of 890 residents of voting age were polled and of those, approximately 88 per cent (791) were aware of the Scoop Hill development, while 11 per cent (99) had not heard of the proposal.
Furthermore, 668 were recorded as having an opinion on the proposed development: of that 21 per cent (188) of the total respondents did not yet have a firm view, or held mixed views as to their final opinion of the proposed development.
Just under 70 per cent (460) objected to the development, while just over 30 per cent (208) supported it.
Following the completion of the survey, a spokesperson for MDCC added: “It is our understanding that the sample size and sample methodology has produced a valid and accurate outcome. More than twice as many of those polled objected to the proposed development as opposed to those supporting it.
“Moffat Community Council now has an unequivocal understanding of the current position of the community, and will use the data collected to enable us to confidently make clear that the community of Moffat objects to the proposed development when we are presenting to the public enquiry.”
The environmental group Save Our Hills-Moffat has welcomed the conclusion reached by the community survey, commenting: “The survey is not without its critics but the move by the community council from a long embedded neutral stance on local windfarm development to one of actively supporting the community view is a significant step forward and the work done by the five teams conducting the survey is to be applauded.
“The community voice at the Public Inquiry will benefit.
“Moffat’s future should not be determined by outside forces and unquestioned policies but by the reasoned and informed judgement of those who live and care for their local environment and the long term well-being of the planet and all life forms.”
Meanwhile, the survey attracted some criticism from residents in outer areas of the town, such as along the A708, A701 and Old Edinburgh Road, who were not included in the survey area.
Addressing this, MDCC said: “By knocking on doors, the sampling process ensured we covered multiple demographics and areas, and the respondent data was not subject to any self-selecting sampling bias. “The survey design intent was to obtain a statistically significant number of responses, rather than trying to survey every single member of the voting age population.”
The results of the survey will be used as part of the MDCC contribution to the Scottish Government’s inquiry into the scheme which was put forward by Community Windpower Ltd (CWL).
The formal public inquiry was triggered after members of Dumfries and Galloway Councils planning committee in March voted to lodge their opposition with Scottish Ministers to the 60 turbine scheme.
