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Luce Valley Windfall

LUCE VALLEY residents are in line for a £405,000 windfall over the next 25 years.

Power giants Scottish and Southern Energy have agreed to pay the communities of New Luce and Old Luce a combined £15,000 a year over that period.

The money is recompense for the drawbacks involved with SSE's 15-turbine windfarm which is expected to be constructed at nearby Artfield Fell by next summer.

In addition, the two communities have also secured a £30,000 lump sum up front from the company. The cash is a massive boost for the area and is thought to be favourable in comparison to other such settlements around Britain.

Some of the first windfarm- affected areas in the Highlands settled for as little as a one-off £1000 payment. Both the Luce communities have agreed to split the money straight down the middle and will use the cash for the community projects.