An 80 metre high weather mast looks set to get planning consent this week.

Jan 25 2013 by Cheryl McEvoy, Ayrshire Post

But Muirkirk Community Council opposes its erection, near a former opencast site. Community councillors fear the mast will be a forerunner to a wind farm.

Especially as the application is from a wind farm developer.

Community council points out there are already two masts on Avisyard Hill. But East Ayrshire planners reckon ‘a temporary meteorological mast’ won’t have an unacceptable visual impact.

The planners say it won’t harm wildlife either, and point to bird deflectors going on to guy wires.

And they say any future application for a windfarm will be considered ‘on its own merits’.