Views of ancient stones saved after landowner's rethink on wind farm

Published on Monday 20 July 2009 22:03

A LANDOWNER has bowed to pressure from campaigners fighting plans for a wind farm they argued would damage views of one of Scotland's most iconic landmarks.

The controversial proposals in Lewis would have damaged the view of the island's ancient Callanish Stones, according to those fighting the scheme.

It would also have set a precedent, they argued, as the first wind farm built in a National Scenic Area in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has been considering whether to grant permission for the 53-turbine Muaitheabhal wind farm on the Eishken Estate, following a public inquiry.

However, now the developers – estate owner Nick Oppenheim's company Beinn Mhor Power and Crionaig Power Limited – have announced they will submit an amended application on Thursday, which they hope will quell concerns.

Under the new proposals, 14 fewer turbines would be built and none would be constructed in the National Scenic Area.

However, each would be 144 metres high – 19 metres taller than the turbines in the previous proposal.

The new wind farm would generate a total output of 140 megawatts, compared with 159 from the previous scheme.

Mr Oppenheim told The Scotsman: "The primary motivation was because they are more efficient. They are sited where they are because of pressure from campaigners."

He said even if the Scottish Government decided in favour of the initial application, they would still press ahead with the new plans.

Mr Oppenheim, a city financier estimated to be worth 50 million, added he "was sure" there would still be some opposition to the plans.

Of the campaigners opposed to the development, he said: "I always think that people who have passionate views are people to respect. I took the view that the economic benefits to the islands outweighed the damage to the National Scenic Area."

He added that the wind farm would create 180 jobs, of which more than half would be permanent.

In 2004, Beinn Mhor Power lodged plans for a 133-turbine, 399 megawatt wind farm on the Eishken Estate.

This was modified to 53 turbines in 2006, in an application that led to a public inquiry. A decision from ministers was expected imminently.

Iain Maciver, from the Muaitheabhal Community Windfarm Trust in Stornoway, added that the turbines would be built closer together on the Eishken Estate, in an area that is not as visible.

"The new application has removed the project completely from the National Scenic Area," he said. "The delay has meant that the development can now benefit from the progress that has now been made in turbine design and manufacture."

A spokesman for the John Muir Trust, which has campaigned against the project, said it would "obviously be good news" if the new application avoided the National Scenic Area.

However, Mike Daniels, chief scientific officer for the John Muir Trust, added: "We are seeking urgent clarity from the government over how this revision affects the findings of the public inquiry, which has yet to be published."

There have been about 3,900 objections to the Muaitheabhal wind farm.

The Callanish Stones attract visitors from across the world, who are particularly drawn by a rare lunar spectacle every 18.6 years. Campaigners said the wind farm would have interrupted the view of the spectacle.