COUNCILLOR for Stirling West, Neil Benny, today welcomed the decision to refuse the application for a further wind farm on the Cairnoch Hill in Carron Valley.

This follows an appeal by the developer, Partnership for Renewables against the Stirling Council decision for a 15 Turbine wind farm on Cairnoch Hill which is to north of the Carron Valley Reservoir.

The appeal was heard by Scottish Government planners who upheld the council decision.

There are currently two other main wind farms in the area, the Earlsburn windfarm to the west and the Craigengelt windfarm to the east.

Speaking about the decision Councillor Benny said: "This is great news, at last we have recognition that there are too many wind farms in the Carron Valley area. This application would have meant misery for residents and visitors alike, further ruining a landscape that many in the Stirling area enjoy.

"We have a unique landscape in Stirling and wind farm developers need to realise that it needs to be nurtured and protected, not ruthlessly exploited in pursuit of subsidy." The Carron Valley area had been identified as an area of windfarm overcrowding in council policy.