Homing in

Scotland’s rural population has, for too long, been the victim of unwelcome industrialisation on a colossal scale by wind turbines and wind farms of ever increasing sizes.

We have been fed stories from government and developers that wind farms don’t deter tourists, are safe when placed close to paths and bridleways, don’t kill many birds, are attractive, don’t affect property prices and can be placed within a few hundred metres of houses with no ill-effects on people’s health.

Weekend reports that radar systems have been developed that can operate in the vicinity of wind farms is, therefore, to be welcomed, as it removes the last practical obstacle to having at least ten 120m-high wind turbines on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.

If wind farms have, as is claimed, no adverse effects then there can be no logical argument against having them on green spaces in and around our cities where their close proximity to a greater proportion of electricity consumers would reduce electrical transmission losses.

It’s time that the urban dwellers experienced for themselves the effects of living with these hugely damaging installations. Let’s then see whether objectors are only referred to as “nimbys” when they live in the countryside.

Dr Gavin WhittakeR

Heriot

Borders