The firm is currently consulting with the community councils of Stow and Heriot on its plans for the site, just off the A7, formerly operated by Tarmac.

It is understood the expansion will be at the expense of an area of forest at the top of Hoppringle Hill – just 300m from the house which has been home to the Eyres for the last 20 years.

And for Kay Eyre, it is the straw that broke the camel’s back.

For the family already lives on the doorstep of the 18-turbine wind farm at Toddleburn which is approaching completition.

And on Rowanbank, the next hill to the the south of their isolated cottage, renewable energy giant npower has recently unveilved plans for a 25-turbine facility and is due to apply to Scottish Borders Council for planning permission in December.

The upshot of this disruption to their rural idyll, likely to be exacerbated when the Waverley railway line is built, is that the beleaguered Eyres have now approached estate agents with a view to selling up.

Ironically, neither Kim, 45, nor her husband Joe, 46, objected when consent for the Toddleburn project was first sought.

“We actually believe in the need for renewable energy and, although we think there are probably better ways of generating it, such as off-shore or hydro, we never want to be nimbyish,” said Mrs Eyre this week.

SBC’s planning committee, however, backed those who did protest and it took an appeal to the Scottish Government before Toddleburn was given the go-ahead.

This week, Mrs Eyre reflected on how life has changed on the slopes of Toddleburn.

“It is truly tragic that we are being driven from an area we have loved for its natural beauty and from a community we have supported through school, church, toddlers group and the WRI.

“Notwithstanding the enormous visual impact, for the past 18 months our peaceful existence has been shattered by living on the path of the construction of the Toddleburn wind farm.

“The promises made to us by the wind farm operators have so far been met, but not without a fight. The volume of traffic going past our house has been huge and a complete surprise. The speed it travels – despite our repeated protests – the litter left behind, the mud, the clouds of dust and attitude of some of the contractors, but by no means all, have been unpleasant revelations.

“All summer we have shared access with the contractors.