Anti-windfarm demo is planned for next week  

Credit:  John McHale, Reporter, grough, www.grough.co.uk 13 December 2011 ~~

[A] demonstration against a planned windfarm postponed from last month will now go ahead next week.

Save the Monadhliath Mountains campaigners said they plan to hold a peaceful demonstration outside Highland Council headquarters where they expect the controversial Allt Duine windfarm proposals to be discussed.

The group planned a similar demonstration in November but the item was taken off the agenda.

Former Mountaineering Council of Scotland president Chris Townsend is among those supporting the campaign group, which said the planned 31-turbine development is a ‘windfarm too far’.

The journalist and author said: “As the council meets to discuss the Allt Duine wind farm proposal, we want to send a very clear and visible message to councillors that our supporters strongly believe Allt Duine is a windfarm too far.

“The proposed Allt Duine wind farm represents one of 11 windfarms that either already exist or are at the planning application stage in the Cairngorms National Park area alone.

“We’re very concerned about the cumulative effect of turbines on the unspoilt landscape of Scotland’s largest national park and the potential damage to the area. We hope that the councillors will listen to the strength of public feeling against this application.”

Writer and broadcaster Cameron McNeish and John Muir Trust chief executive Stuart Brooks are also backing the campaign against the development by Swindon-based RWE npower renewables, which has also made an application to the Scottish Government under the Electricity Act 1989 to build the windfarm.

The Save the Monadhliath Mountains campaign group urged councillors to visit the site, 8km (5 miles) west of Aviemore, to see for themselves whether such a development is appropriate for what the group says is an important area of wild land and outstanding natural beauty.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority, the John Muir Trust, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, Scottish Campaign for National Parks and local estates have all objected to the plans.

The protest will take place outside the Highland Council headquarters on Glenurquhart Road in Inverness next Tuesday morning.