June 18, 2012
Scotland

Climbers call for windfarm ban on high peaks

The Northern Times, www.northern-times.co.uk 18 June 2012

A mountaineering organisation has called for Scotland’s highest peaks to be protected from commercial wind farm developments.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) wants a moratorium on wind farms encroaching on Munros (peaks over 3000ft) and Corbetts (2500-3000ft)

There are four Munros in Sutherland – Ben More, Conival, Ben Klibreck and Ben Hope – and 17 Corbetts in the area from Coigach to the Pentland Firth.

The call for a ban is contained in a Manifesto on Onshore Wind Farms, launched last week by the organisation.

Ron Payne, MCofS Director of Landscape and Access, said: “Munros and Corbetts are among our finest mountain landscapes and are vital to our cultural and historical identity. They form a clearly identifiable group and are among the last parts of the UK free from obvious, or extensive, human presence.

“The mountains and wild places of Scotland are a national asset beyond price, yet they risk being irrevocably damaged by commercial wind farm developments.”

Mr Payne added: “The threat is not just from individual schemes, but from their cumulative impact. With ever more schemes in the pipeline, we need urgent action.

“Our manifesto reflects the determination of the MCofS to defend this precious resource and it examines some of the issues and proposes practical action to balance the need for clean energy with the need to conserve our natural heritage.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/06/18/climbers-call-for-windfarm-ban-on-high-peaks/