Ecology
Local habitat and wildlife
The effect of the project on the local habitat and wildlife, particularly on migrating geese, has not been properly researched. Several species of geese have been ignored by researchers, while it is suspected that the site may also be home to great crested newts, the most threatened species of newt in Britain. There will be loss of foraging habitat to hen harrier, disturbance to geese feeding fields and destruction of ancient hedgerows, trees, flora and fauna.
The Berwickshire cliffs are recognised as being of national importance with designated sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) being prevalent. The inter-tidal zone between St. Abbs and Fast Castle is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and immediately off-shore there is a Voluntary Marine Reserve (VMR). St. Abbs Head, itself, is a coastal National Nature Reserve (NNR). The proximity of so many specially designated sites to the proposed wind farm must be given proper consideration by the planning committee
Policy N4- The Precautionary Principle should be applied: in relation to the Drone Moss and Long Moss SSSI. Although the developers state that mitigation measures (effective site management and good housekeeping) would control impacts on the SSSI to an insignificant level, the potential environmental damage from not adhering to the stated mitigation measures could result in significant irreversible damage to the nearby SSSI’s, of which Long Moss is one of the few remaining intact and undisturbed examples of poor fen in the district.
Ornithology
PMR quote “mitigation measures were proposed to reduce the significance of the impacts on wintering hen harriers”. Nowhere in the proposal have these mitigation measures been listed. PMR have carried out survey work, modelling and collision risk regarding the Greylag goose population. Nowhere is there any mention of the Barnacle, White Fronted and Pink-Footed geese (Borders Bird Reports) that use this area as a stopover on their migration routes, not to mention all the other migratory species such as the European Crane, that have been known to pass through this area.