February 2024 - Local rugby club scores with donation from Bloch wind farm to tackle pitch improvements

RES has donated £4,500 to Langholm Rugby Football Club (RFC). The donation has supported fundraising efforts to deliver vital pitch improvements after they had become waterlogged and unusable during poor weather.

The rugby club, located a short distance from RES’ proposed 126 MW Bloch Wind Farm, had been raising enough funds to carry out drainage works on the pitch. RES’ contribution formed just over 50% of the project’s total cost and allows the pitches, a valuable community resource, to be used year-round for activities such as all-age rugby tournaments, outdoor events, and by the local school for cross country running.

Kenneth Pool, Langholm RFC Chairman commented: “It is in superb condition following groundwork undertaken by Sportsmaster UK to improve drainage and condition of the soil and grass. RES, of course supported the costs of this work, and it has made a huge difference to the pitch and should help the drainage for a number of years to come. This will ensure the pitch is available for matches and training during wet periods, which was not always the case in the past.”

Additionally, RES has gifted £2,000 towards match equipment, training tops and facilities for Langholm Youth Rugby Trust, a dedicated grassroots initiative that was established to generate the ongoing engagement with rugby from youth to senior level.

Jim Cameron, Development Project Manager at RES, reflected: “We’re really pleased to assist Langholm RFC with a donation towards their pitch improvements and proud that we’re helping to support many more hours of rugby and community activities at the club throughout the year.“RES wants to be a power for good in communities that neighbour our projects and we’ve been working with the local community to identify what long-term tangible local benefits they would like to see from a wind farm at Bloch. Popular proposals so far have included RES’ unique Local Electricity Discount Scheme, which we’re taking forwards as part of our plans for the site.”

RES submitted a planning application for the 21-turbine Bloch Wind Farm in November 2022, a new proposal located on land adjacent to the existing Solwaybank Wind Farm, near Langholm.

If consented, Bloch Wind Farm would be capable of generating enough clean, low-cost electricity to meet the annual demand of around 100,000 homes each year, helping to meet Scotland’s target of achieving 50% of energy consumption from renewable sources by 2030.