Wind farm harm

THE Scottish countryside is at risk of being swamped by wind power stations going up all around us.

These “wind deployment centres” are, in fact, power stations consisting of giant industrial turbines the height of 40 storey buildings and more. The turbines are manufactured and brought in from overseas. They are transported by lorry across our countryside before each one is placed in concrete foundations (concrete which also has to be transported by enormous, gas-guzzling lorries on our roads and along newly created tracks across virgin countryside and through villages).

Nobody now seriously believes the rush to wind is about reducing carbon footprint or saving the planet. It is about big profits for the energy companies and for the landowners who see a bandwagon coming through and want a slice of the action.

All our energies should be directed towards reducing energy consumption, not finding inefficient, unreliable ways of generating it.

The lives of thousands of people who live in the countryside have been blighted by the noise, disruption and shadow flicker caused by “wind deployment centres” on their doorstep. Why should the countryside, where neither the bulk of the population lives nor our energy is consumed, be blighted with these industrial monstrosities?

Wind power has its place in the mix, for sure – but Scots are increasingly turning away from the industrial damage wind turbines represent to our countryside and coastlines, in favour of wave and tide power. Once we have mastered that technology, an unscarred Scotland can truly hold her head up with pride at our contribution to the renewable energy debate.

David Watt

Legerwood

Berwickshire

YOUR article (“Donald Trump warns committee wind farms will kill Scottish tourism”, 25 April) angered me as I believe Mr Trump is threatening one of the most significant opportunities Scotland has had since the discovery of oil.

Aberdeen has thrived from oil and gas, where family incomes are dependent on engineering, science, technology and the many other supporting disciplines and services related to the industry.

Green energy will utilise all of the skills once used in oil and keep these families in the North-East and Scotland’s economy buoyant.

Anyone who thinks Trump’s golf course (in a nation that has hundreds), of any importance needs a reality check.

Sean Ashley

Garden Road

Cults, Aberdeen

SNP MSP Chic Brodie’s asked Donald Trump to supply clinical evidence to support his claim that wind farms are having a negative impact on tourism. It is all too easy to dismiss Mr Trump’s reply of “I am the evidence”, as nonsense.

For there is, indeed, evidence out there in the rural area areas of Scotland to support his viewpoint, if only our MSPs had the courage to step out of their bubble, visit such areas and ask those directly affected and not merely read reports by vested interests in government and the renewables industry.

Neil McKinnon

Tulchan Garden

Perth