LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME


[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]

Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

Get weekly updates
RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Stripe

Donate via Paypal

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Row erupts over tourism claims in windfarm report 

Councillor says cost of challenge to projects ‘makes sham of democracy’

Scottish Government-funded research suggesting windfarms pose little threat to tourism contradicts the findings of a wave of other extensive surveys that have been highlighted by a leading eco-tourism business.

The conflict has coincided with a warning from a Highland councillor that the cost of legally challenging a development make a sham of democracy.

The government survey by Glasgow Caledonia University concluded 97% of tourists would not be deterred from revisiting Scotland.

However, a poll of more than 1,600 people from 21 nations for Wilderness Scotland found that 91% of visitors would not return if major windfarms were built.

A survey for tourism industry association Wild Scotland showed that 61% of operators in Scotland felt the impact of windfarms would be negative. Another, by holiday operator Activity Scotland, found 88% of businesses agreed with that conclusion. Wilderness Scotland director Neil Birnie said: “The government study clearly does not represent the situation accurately.

“It appears not to have consulted the tourists who would be most affected, those who come to savour the unspoilt scenery and environment. This type of tourism is worth over £1billion to the Scottish economy each year.”

Highland Council’s confirmation this week that it will seek legal costs from defeated windfarm objectors in Skye infuriated independent councillor Jim Crawford.

“It’s a slight on democracy,” he said. “If we’re doing something the community don’t want, they should have the right to object to it without being pilloried by cost.”

Labour councillor Jimmy Gray, however, said the “whole question of democracy was well exercised”, adding: “The continuous challenges made were themselves an affront to democracy.”

Jeannie Munro, who has led the Save Our Dava campaign against a raft of proposed windfarms on the pristine Dava Moor between Nairn and Grantown, said: “It’s a David versus Goliath battle with the developers. They’ve got the money, we haven’t.”

The Press and Journal

22 March 2008

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Contributions
   Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)
Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI M TG TS G Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook Wind Watch on Linked In

Wind Watch on Mastodon Wind Watch on Truth Social

Wind Watch on Gab Wind Watch on Bluesky