410ft turbines in Highlands would make region ‘open house’ for wind farms, mountaineers claim

By ALISTAIR MUNRO
Published on 22/11/2012 15:49

SCOTLAND’S mountaineers are furious a 34-turbine windfarm proposal - visible from a number of famous Munro peaks in the Highlands – is being recommended for approval by planners despite over 300 objections.

• 410ft wind turbines proposed for Highlands region would make region ‘open house’ for wind farms, outdoors body warns

• Proposed development in Ardross and Ardgay would be “intrusively visible”

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland claim approval would send a message that the north of Scotland was “open house for massive industrial-scale wind farms”.

The body, which represents 11,000 climbers and hillwalkers, say the proposed development between Ardross and Ardgay in Ross-shire would be “instrusively visible” from Munro mountains such as Ben Wyvis, Beinn Dearg and those in the Fannichs.

Edinburgh-based Wind Energy (Glenmorie) has applied to the Scottish Government to build the turbines, each standing 410ft high.

The have been 209 objections made to the Government, with 32 in support, and an additional 121 objections, with one letter of support, to Highland Council, which debates the application on 27 November.

MCofS Chief Officer David Gibson said: “We are talking here about one of Scotland’s finest mountain areas, an area of outstanding natural beauty, and one which visitors from around the world associate with Scotland’s unique natural heritage.

“Unless the Highland Council object in the strongest possible terms to this intrusive proposal, they will demonstrate a lack of stewardship and send a strong message to the renewables industry that the highlands of Scotland are open house for massive industrial-scale wind farms.”