HUGE wind turbines have made their mark on the skyline around Longtown - and will be towering over this part of north Cumbria for the next quarter of a century.

The nine-turbine development at Beck Burn, on the outskirts of the town, was recently completed and is set to start generating power this month.

Despite opposition in the planning stages, community leaders are now urging their parishioners to make the most of the £3.8m financial benefits the controversial development brings with it.

When the site comes into operation it will trigger a £155,250 annual community fund which will be invested into community projects in eight parishes within a five-mile radius - and some within a wider 10k radius.

Work on the 126.5m turbines are ongoing after the last rotor was installed in January.

Once in operation, the site will generate 31.05MW and will produce enough electricity to supply the average annual needs of about 18,800 homes.

Gordon Routledge, vice chairman of Arthuret parish council who is representing the parish on the community fund committee, said: "They're very prominent.

"You can see them from the Esk Bridge as clear as day. They're just all there.

"There's some say they don't look good but I've not really spoken to many people.

"It was something people didn't want initially.

"But it went through on an appeal and now we might as well have some funding out of it, if nothing else.

"It's certainly changed the skyline.

"You can see them from the church hill, you can see them from the river and other places. Not from the town itself.

"I'd rather not have seen them but we've gone beyond that point now and they're there, so we may as well take something and improve the community with grants from it for 25 years.

"It's changed the landscape for the next quarter of a century."

Representatives from each of the eight parish councils - Kirkandrews, Arthuret, Westlinton, Rockcliffe, Springfield and Gretna Green, Gretna and Rigg, Kirkpatrick and District and Canonbie and District - form the local panel and will vote on what to fund, with local councillors from Cumbria and across the border also attending meetings in an advisory roles.

The fund is being administered by Cumbria Community Foundation and each parish council will have £5,000 to allocate in grants of up to £1,000 to projects it sees fit every year.

Meanwhile 20 per cent of the fund, about £31,000, will be ring-fenced for education and training purposes.

A larger pot of £84,200, for grants between £1,000 and £20,000, will be prioritised for projects within the 5k radius of the wind farm.

Projects within a 10k radius are eligible to apply but must show benefit to those within the 5k area.

Ray Bloxham, city councillor for Longtown, who will chair the local panel, said: "We are where we are and at least it's bringing £155k in for 25 years to the area.

"I hope the area will come forward with some projects that they can get involved in with the community."

He continued: "I had strong opinions in the beginning but it went through the democratic system.

"We have to believe in the system, although some people won't like the results and I hope the community gets behind it and use the money it generates for community benefit."

Linda Duckworth, asset manager for EDF, explained that the company works hard to be a good neighbour in areas where wind farms are developed.

"As part of our long term approach one of the best ways we can give something back to the local area around Beck Burn wind farm is through a community benefit fund," she said.

"Over the 25 year life of the site, EDF Energy Renewables will provide funding to the local area supporting community groups, events and activities and making a long term contribution to the local community."

Beck Burn is one of two new wind farm developments in the area.

REG Windpower was granted permission to build six turbines at Hallburn, near Longtown, though they are yet to be installed.

Elsewhere a neighbouring authority consultation for a wind farm between Lockerbie and Langholm has been lodged with Carlisle City Council.

Muirhall Energy Ltd applied to Dumfries and Galloway Council in 2015 for permission to install and operate 13 turbines on the site which forms part of Loganhead commercial forestry plantation.

The number of planned turbines has since been reduced to eight. They would be 135 metres tall.