Vandals target Hawick wind turbine blade delivery

Vandals have targeted the delivery of wind turbine blades to a development in the Scottish Borders.

Developers Energiekontor said the tyres of a lifter vehicle involved in transportation to the Pines Burn project near Hawick had been damaged.

It led to the cancellation of a delivery planned for Tuesday while repairs were carried out.

The company said it hoped it would be able to resume on Friday once the vehicle was fixed.

Police Scotland said officers were called out to an incident on Tuesday.

A force spokesperson said: "We received a report of tyres on industrial vehicles being damaged when parked in a layby on the A7 near Selkirk."

The blade delivery was paused in the layby last week due to slower than expected travel times and reduced winter daylight hours.

It is hoped it will be able to set off once again when repairs have been completed.

An Energiekontor spokesperson said: "We apologise for the inconvenience caused. This cancellation was due to vandalism to the blade lifter. Repairs are ongoing."

The firm has faced criticism for the disruption caused by the slow-moving convoys carrying the 65m (210ft) blades but has pledged to keep traffic impact to an "absolute minimum".

The turbines are being delivered to the site close to Bonchester Bridge in sections, with a police escort needed for the convoys due to their size.

The deliveries were halted last month for a review following complaints that they had "paralysed" Hawick town centre.

The scheme was originally refused by Scottish Borders Council due to its "unacceptable impacts" on the nearby Penchrise Pen fort.

However, it was given the green light after an appeal to the Scottish government.

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