September 16, 2011
Scotland

Protestors set to lobby Inverness councillors on wind farm plan

The Inverness Courier, www.inverness-courier.co.uk 16 September 2011

Council officials are recommending plans for a windfarm between Kiltarlity and Drumnadrochit are opposed.

The planned 23-turbine development at Druim Ba forest on the Blairmore Estate will be considered on Tuesday.

The turbines, at 490ft high, would be Scotland’s highest.

Planning officers are recommending the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey planning applications committee opposes the plan which will ultimately be decided by Scottish ministers.

But developer Druim Ba Sustainable Energy is surprised by the recommendation.

A spokeswoman said there had been no objections from any other statutory bodies, including Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Environment Protection Agency. “Furthermore, no objections were raised from other important non-statutory consultees including VisitScotland, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, Historic Scotland and RSPB,” the spokeswoman said. “Finally, the project received more letters of support than of objection.”

“At a time of public sector cuts, and growing unemployment, particularly among young people, the rejection of the project is potentially a serious loss for people and businesses in the Highland region.”

Residents are also planning to fly a tethered blimp near the site to show the height of the wind turbines in relation to the rural surroundings.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/09/16/protestors-set-to-lobby-inverness-councillors-on-wind-farm-plan/