January 18, 2014
Scotland

John Muir Trust opposes wind turbines near ‘sacrosanct’ Cairngorms National Park

18 January 2014 | www.thecourier.co.uk

The UK’s leading wild land conservation charity, the John Muir Trust, has objected to plans for the 17-turbine Nathro Hill windfarm at the head of Glen Lethnot, near the Cairngorms National Park.

Developer Eurowind’s plans to build at Garrogie in the Careston Estate are with Scottish ministers.

The trust’s policy officer John Low has written to the Scottish Government and said the area around the Cairngorms National Park is “sacrosanct” and that the trust bases its objection “on our wild land and renewable energy policies”.

“The suitability of the site for development has not been adequately proven, with the landscape and visual impacts being unwarranted within the area and having significant 
levels of intrusion in surrounding areas,” he said.

Bird charity RSPB Scotland withdrew its objection after concerns over the impact on golden eagle populations were addressed, and the Ministry of Defence also withdrew its objection, which was based on technical issues.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland is still opposed to the project, however, due to concerns over the 61-Megawatt development’s impact on the nearby Munros and Corbetts.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/01/18/john-muir-trust-opposes-wind-turbines-near-sacrosanct-cairngorms-national-park/