| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Mountaineering Council angered by windfarm plans in Lairg
Credit: 11 January 2013 | www.scotsman.com ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Scottish climbers have hit out at plans for another windfarm they claim will damage some of the country’s best mountain landscapes.
The Mountaineering Council for Scotland has also accused First Minister of hypocrisy for supporting such project just two weeks into the Year of Natural Scotland.
Highland Council planners are recommending that councillors do not object to a proposal by major power company SSE to build 27 huge turbines at Dalnessie, Lairg.
MCofS, along with Scottish Natural Heritage, has objected to the proposal and has warned that if the council does not reject the proposal, and the Scottish Government subsequently support the project, the outcome will be the loss of an important national resource.
David Gibson, MCofS Chief Officer, said: “Just a few days ago Alex Salmond declared that ‘in this Year of Natural Scotland, there is no better time to enjoy Scotland’s great outdoors’.
“Unless he acts right now it will be the last time that people will have the chance to see the fabulous mountain landscapes round Dalnessie in their natural state. After that they will be reduced to an industrial site.
“Right now the Year of Natural Scotland looks like an empty slogan. If it is to have any meaning at all the First Minister should stop making misguided statements and get on with delivering policies that will protect our countryside.
“Time and time again we hear the same mantra from the Scottish Government saying that appropriate protection for our wild land exists. The truth is exactly the opposite.
“Highland councillors must make a stand by rejecting these proposals and taking seriously their obligations to protect our natural heritage. We believe the scheme is contrary to the Highland Council’s own wind farm spatial planning policy.”
Dalnessie wind farm, if approved by ministers, would be close to mountains popular with hill walkers and visitors alike, including Ben Klibreck, Ben Hope, Ben More Assynt, Ben Hee and Ben Loyal.
Highland Council planning committee will be asked to vote on the scheme on 15 January.
The report prepared by its planners notes that the Scottish Government has still not declared its final policy position on wind farms and wild lands.
McofS, which represents over 11,000 members, said this guidance was urgently required due to the large number of industrial scale wind farms which threaten our countryside.
The MCofS has stated previously that it believes that inappropriate wind farm developments could have a severe impact on tourism and on the valuable jobs they provide in fragile rural economies. Recent reports showing a 12% drop in Scottish tourism last summer make the case more urgent than ever.
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 |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=31980 ]
