January 27, 2012
Scotland

Windfarm fight blows on

By Jane Candlish, The Press and Journal, www.pressandjournal.co.uk 27 January 2012

Campaigners are putting the final touches to their case against a controversial Highland windfarm development.

Druim Ba Sustainable Energy want to build 23 turbines near Kiltarlity, by Inverness.

The masts, in woodland on the Blairmore Estate, will be up to 490ft and generate up 69MW of electricity – enough for 38,000 homes.

The firm claims the development had the potential to bring £100million of investment to the Highlands – including £7.7million of community benefits – with 55 jobs.

The Scottish Government is expected to hold a public inquiry into the plans because of the size.

Reporter Dan Jackman has been appointed to examine the application.

A pre-examination hearing will be held at the end of next month although a date has not been set yet.

A spokesman for the government’s Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals said that the reporter had written to the applicants seeking a response to the objections raised “so that the reporter may have a clearer understanding of the areas of disagreement”.

Highland councillors objected to the scheme after visiting the site in September last year.

They branded it “obscene” and “terrible”.

From the viewpoint nearest the site, in the hills above Glen Convinth, all 23 turbines would be visible.

During their campaign against the plan, protesters released a huge red blimp into the air above the village to show how turbines would be.

Yesterday campaigner Lyndsay Ward said that the group was speaking to their solicitors about the hearing.

Some of the protesters are expected to give evidence to the inquiry.

On their website, Druim Ba Sustainable Energy said that the area was an “excellent site” for a windfarm.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/27/windfarm-fight-blows-on/