February 14, 2012
Blogs, Scotland, Wales

Callanish threatened by another windfarm (view the stones with your back to it says Councillor!)

The Heritage Journal, heritageaction.wordpress.com 14 February 2012

Views from the majestic Callanish Stones are once again threatened by a proposed windfarm, this time in the form of two turbines each 67 metres high on the island of Great Bernera, nearly five miles away.

Despite the importance of the views you might think there was little hope that the megalithic card would carry much weight bearing in mind how far away from the stones the turbines are going to be. But no, Historic Scotland has said the turbines would break planning policy by having

“a significant adverse impact on Calanais’ setting which contributes considerably to its cultural significance”

and

“Calanais’ setting, extending out to the skyline, is central to its understanding, appreciation and enjoyment, and contributes to its cultural, aesthetic and spiritual values. It forms the centre of a wide prehistoric ritual landscape, incorporating a number of related and often intervisible stone circles, standing stones and natural features.”

Bravo!

Meanwhile, down in Wales work at Mynydd Y Betws continues, without heed to such fancy talk. One of the Councillors supporting the Hebrides scheme hit out at conservationists’ intervention saying tourists to Callanish “should turn their backs to the turbines and observe the monoliths from a different angle if they really wanted an uninterrupted view.” There are those that might say that was outrageous philistinism. But then, the authorities seem to be prepared to tolerate the same solution at Mynydd Y Betws so obviously it can’t be!


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/02/14/callanish-threatened-by-another-windfarm-view-the-stones-with-your-back-to-it-says-councillor/