Latest news with #AileenMcCreadie
Daily Record
09-07-2025
- General
- Daily Record
East Ayrshire pupils come up with winning name for newly proposed wind farm
An entry from primary five pupils at Netherthird Primary School stood out to OnPath Energy team. A newly proposed wind farm in East Ayrshire set to transform a former opencast mine has found its identity thanks to help from local pupils. The wind farm, proposed by OnPath Energy, recently submitted a scoping report and is planned for the restored Garleffan and Grievehill opencast coal mine, a prominent site located just east of the village of Netherthird in East Ayrshire. As part of proposals, children from Netherthird, New Cumnock, and Logan Primary School were all invited to put forward names for the site by OnPath Energy, which will now be known as Glen Water Wind Farm. Primary five pupils from Netherthird Primary School came up with the winning name, which, if approved, will become the official title for the site for generations to come. Aileen McCreadie, partnerships and community manager at OnPath Energy, said: " We've been genuinely blown away by the enthusiasm and creativity shown by all the pupils we worked with. "It's been a joy to spend time in each of the three schools, hearing the children's ideas and seeing how much thought they put into the naming process. "There's a real enthusiasm for renewable energy among the pupils, and we're keen to support that interest, not least through their brilliant work with the Clean Green Teams and their ambition to achieve the Gold Award. "Choosing a single winner was far from easy, there were a lot of brilliant names, but Glen Water Wind Farm stood out as something truly meaningful and rooted in the identity of the place. "We'll be putting the other brilliant name suggestions to good use too, with several set to become the names of individual turbines on the proposed site." Other standout entries will also be celebrated, with five turbines at the proposed site set to be named after pupils' creative suggestions. These include Robert Burns turbine, The Nith turbine and Grieveleffan Hill turbine. If consented, Glen Water Wind Farm will feature up to eight turbines each with a tip height of up to 250 metres, capable of generating enough electricity to power the equivalent of around 55,000 homes annually. One primary five pupil from Netherthird Primary School said: 'We learned that in Scotland a Glen is a narrow valley. There are lots of local places that have Glen in their name, like Glenafton, Glenburn and Glenmuir so we thought this would be a good one. We also thought that the wind farm would be near water, so Glen Water was a good choice." It will deliver significant benefit to the local community and causes, delivering a minimum of £5,000 per megawatt annually in community funding. OnPath is also offering one per cent free shared equity to the community as an additional revenue stream, with further opportunities for local people to invest through its shared ownership scheme. Ewan Robertson, project manager at OnPath Energy, said: "Seeing the enthusiasm from pupils and teachers across all three schools has been incredibly motivating. "Their ideas and involvement have helped bring this project to life in a way no technical drawing or grid connection plan ever could. "We believe renewable energy should be a force for good in local communities, not just a power source. That means investing in people, education and opportunity from the very beginning. "Over the 20 years this business has been working in renewable energy this team has seen first-hand how onshore wind can deliver long-term value, from funding vital community projects to supporting local jobs. "We're confident that what we're putting forward here is a strong, well-thought-out proposal that will do the same." The second round of public consultations on the project are scheduled to take place in October, where updated plans will be shown that reflects feedback gathered from the initial consultation events held in April. OnPath Energy has also pledged to continue engaging with local schools, organisations and community groups throughout the development process, ensuring the project leaves a lasting legacy far beyond clean electricity.
Scotsman
22-04-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Consultations for newly proposed East Ayrshire wind farm to start
Locals in East Ayrshire urged to attend public exhibitions Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Locals in East Ayrshire are being urged to attend the first of two rounds of public exhibitions for a newly proposed wind farm in the Cumnock and Doon Valley area. Located within Netherthird on the Garleffan and Grievehill open-cast coal mine, OnPath Energy, formally Banks Renewables, recently submitted a scoping report for the eight-turbine site. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The first exhibition will take place at New Cumnock Bowling Club on April 22 from 12pm to 7pm. This will be followed by a second event at Logan Day Centre on April 23 from 2pm to 7pm, and a final session at Netherthird Community Centre on April 24 from 12pm to 6pm. L-R Jemma Donnelly Head Teacher at Netherthird Primary, Aileen McCreadie Partnerships and Community Manager at OnPath Energy, Jaqueline Clapperton Principal Teacher OnPath Energy's partnerships and community manager Aileen McCreadie, said: 'We're keen for as many residents as possible to come along to the upcoming exhibitions and be part of shaping what this wind farm could look like. 'These sessions are a crucial step for us, we're not here to simply present plans, we're here to listen, to understand local priorities, and where possible to reflect them in the final proposals. "We want to hear from as many members of the community as possible, whether you have ideas for new walking routes, thoughts on what local residents need most, or concerns you'd like to share. We're here to listen, start conversations, and take meaningful action." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We've already started engaging heavily with local organisations and one of the ways we're putting community at the centre is by asking local primary schools to help name the site and its turbines, ensuring the history and identity of this place is woven into its future. Located within Netherthird on the Garleffan and Grievehill open-cast coal mine, OnPath Energy, formally Banks Renewables, recently submitted a scoping report for the eight-turbine site. 'We would like to develop this project hand-in-hand with the local community, so that it becomes more than just a source of renewable energy, but a catalyst for meaningful, lasting positive change in the area.' The proposed wind farm, situated 3.5km to the East of Netherthird, could feature up to eight turbines, each with a maximum tip height of 250 metres, placing them among the most efficient in the UK. If given the go-ahead, the project has the potential to generate up to 161.5 GWh of electricity each year, enough to power approximately 55,000 homes while also providing a minimum of £5,000 per megawatt annually in community funding. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad OnPath is committed to shared ownership across all its new onshore wind projects, offering local communities 1% free equity, with the opportunity to invest further at market value as part of its OnPath Together development approach. Ewan Robertson, project manager for the Cumnock and Doon Valley wind farm proposal said: 'These exhibitions are a key milestone in our journey, giving us the chance to speak directly with the people who know this area best. 'We're not coming in with fixed ideas. We want to listen, understand local priorities, and make sure the final plans reflect those voices. 'Whether it's concerns, aspirations, or ideas for how the community could benefit, every comment will be considered when shaping what comes next. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We'll return later this year with a second round of consultation, showing how that feedback has influenced the design, the community benefit offer, and how shared ownership could give local people a real stake in the project.' OnPath Energy has been a leading force in the onshore renewables sector for nearly two decades. In 2025, the company expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of two new sites, Pates Hill Wind Farm in West Lothian and Milton Keynes Wind Farm in England. Construction is also set to begin on three additional wind farms within the next 18 months, Mill Rig Wind Farm near Darvel in South Lanarkshire, as well as the Lethans and Lethans Extension Wind Farms near New Cumnock in East Ayrshire. Further developments are underway, including plans for the Bodinglee Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire and the recently approved Pond Flexible Energy Park near Bathgate. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Owned by leading alternative asset manager Brookfield, the companies OnPath Together development approach, ensures renewable energy projects are more than just wind farms. Each project is designed to be a long-term asset that delivers real value for the communities it serves. OnPath Together is built on collaboration and trust, placing local engagement, investment, and education at its core. This people-first approach ensures that every project leaves a lasting economic, social and environmental legacy, benefiting both people and the planet. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad To find out more about OnPath Energy, please visit: To learn more about the Cumnock and Doon Valley proposals, visit:
