RSPB attacks green light for Highland wind farm

Published on Wednesday 23 November 2011 00:26

THE Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has condemned a Scottish Government decision to approve a 33-turbine wind farm by an internationally important wildlife site, claiming it could affect protected species.

Fergus Ewing, the energy minister, yesterday gave the go-ahead to the Strathy North development in Sutherland, proposed by SSE Renewables.

The wind farm, three miles south of the village of Strathy, will generate 75.9MW of electricity, enough to power more than 35,000 homes. It will create up to 100 jobs and deliver more than £3.5 million of community benefit.

Mr Ewing said he has put in place a series of conditions to protect the natural habitats and landscapes as well as local communities. The plan attracted 166 objections and eight letters of support. Highland Council had backed the plan subject to certain conditions.

However, RSPB Scotland objected, as the site is close to the Forsinard Flows Nature Reserve and is bounded on three sides by a special area of conservation and special protection area for birdlife. The charity said the wind farm could affect birds including golden eagle, hen harrier, black-throated and red-throated divers, greenshank and golden plover.

RSPB has also objected to SSE’s plans for a 77-turbine development at Strathy South and a third wind farm, planned by a different developer at Strathy Forest, immediately to the east.

Aedán Smith, head of planning and development at RSPB Scotland, said the Strathy North approval was disappointing.

“We believe that a windfarm of this scale, so close to such an important area for wildlife, has the potential to be very harmful.

“It is now critical that the Scottish Government and SSE ensure the impacts of this project are properly monitored.”

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john-boy

Friday, November 25, 2011 at 01:48 PM

Well done Mr Ewing. Aeden Smith, spouting off again. He continues to make the RSPB the laughing stock of Scotland by objecting to wind farms all over Scotland without ever providing any evidence of effects on birds. Please get your facts right Mr Smith and do something useful with our RSPB membership fees before we all quit our membership. Your salary is a waste of much needed money.

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Artist

Friday, November 25, 2011 at 10:21 AM

Wind Farms are a total Scam ,the EEC grants that fill pockets of suppliers, do little for the stable production of electricity. Apart from danger to birds ,visual environment, the noise and change in surrounding pressure levels ! Powers that be should wake up that the will be held accountable sooner than the think.!

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man-o-field

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 02:19 PM

Check it out. 100 jobs during construction only? (3 jobs, possibly part time, when up and running?) 75.9MW of electricity generated only during the most favourable wind conditions? Please elucidate, Fergus

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Brenda H

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 12:25 PM

Is this the same RSPB that has recommended the local MSP as Politician of the Year in the Nature of Scotland awards? The MSP who, like Ewing, is determined to cover Scotland in windfarms and will brook no opposition? Surely not.

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Daye Tucker

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 10:48 AM

http:www.telegraph.co.ukearthenergywindpower5038273RSPB-calls-for-increase-in-windfarms.html If you call for an increase of wind farms and you have a programme of species reintroduction on the east coast, do you issue the new arrivals with a map of where it is safe to fly?

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tested

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 08:52 AM

RSPB should stick to looking after birds and drop its pseudo political eco personna. It was a serious mistake for this once well beloved charitable organisation to allow itself to be internally corrupted by eco nuts. Now it has had to adopt a very hypocritical stance with spokespeople pushing a renewable agenda in the media while the it's raison d'etre (birds) are threatened by the proliferation of wild fowl slicing machines.

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nabodican

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 04:23 AM

Complete madness, Fergus Ewing is a disgrace to Scotland and should be thoroughly ashamed of himself.

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