January 9, 2014
Scotland

Protest meeting against planned wind farm

The Inverness Courier | 09/01/2014 | www.inverness-courier.co.uk

Objectors to controversial plans for a 25-turbine wind farm at the gateway to the internationally-recognised nature reserve of Glen Affric are being urged to attend a protest meeting on Sunday.

ABO Wind UK announced in November it had struck a deal to assess the potential for a wind farm on land owned by three estates – Erchless, Farley and Breakachy. The site is to the west of Kilmorack and north of the A831.

But the plans have already run into strong opposition from local residents and businesses including Aigas Field Centre owned by world-renowned environmentalist, Sir John Lister-Kaye.

The centre is hosting Sunday’s public meeting at which people will be invited to sign a protest letter to send to Scottish Government ministers, Highland councillors, the developer and land owners.

There will also be a short presentation on the details of the wind farm and how it would look from different directions.

Warwick Lister-Kaye, general manager at Aigas Field Centre, said there had been widespread horror and disbelief at what was regarded as another threat of industrialisation in the area.

“We have done enough for renewables here,” he said. “We already have industrial turbines impacting on our area with many more proposed and we have hydro.

“We have the devastation of the Beauly to Denny upgrade and Balblair substation. The visual impact of both is appalling and both have outstanding unacceptable noise issues for residents. Enough is enough.”

The meeting intended to send a strong and powerful message to ABO Wind, the landowners involved and the politicians that the plans would not be tolerated.

So far, more than 30 local businesses, including tourism ventures, have added their names to a list of businesses against the turbines.

* Sunday’s meeting starts at 2pm. Objection posters for display in cars and homes will be distributed and roadside protest banners will be on sale. Campaigners, who successfully fought the proposed Druim Ba wind farm between Kiltarlity and Drumnadrochit, will take part in a question and answer session.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/01/09/protest-meeting-against-planned-wind-farm/