MOUNTAINEERING leaders have objected to a wind farm proposed for south-west Scotland.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland, which has 11,800 members, said E.ON's project would damage the mountain landscape near the planned site close to Carsphairn, Dumfries and Galloway.

Plans have been lodged for 19 of the 425ft turbines. It is the first time the council has come out against a wind farm in the region. David Gibson, the body's chief officer, said: "We believe this site just doesn't have the capacity to support a wind energy development without visually fragmenting the mountain landscape."