By David Kerr

Scaled down plans for a windfarm above Loch Ness met with a mixed reaction
when they were put on show to the public.

Energy developer RES revealed their new plans for the Culachy Windfarm
yesterday in Fort Augustus.

The company had initially wanted to build 25 turbines on Culachy Estate
between Invergarry and Fort Augustus, above the A82 Inverness to Fort
William road.

But after a round of public consultations earlier this year the developer
went back to the drawing board and cut the number of turbines to 13.

The changes would mean the masts would not be visible from Fort Augustus or
from the A82 as the larger scale development would have been.

However, local residents are still concerned about the impact on the area.

John Foster attended the consultation yesterday.

He said: “As Fort Augustus residents my wife and I are very pleased that
they’ve cut the number of turbines so they can’t be seen from the village
or from the main road.

“However, as hillwalkers we are very concerned about the cumulative effect
of these developments on the hills around the area.

“From higher up you’ll be able to see the turbines from as far away as the
Cannich hills. I’m also somewhat concerned that this development will
partly cover what has been classed as wild land.”

The RES Culachy windfarm would be close to the site of SSE’s proposed
67-turbine Stronelairg scheme and on the opposite side of the loch from
e.on’s planned Moriston windfarm, which will have up to 30 turbines.

It would also be built close to Gamesa Energy’s proposed Aberchalder
windfarm – and Fort Augustus man Dave Marriner is concerned about the
“jigsaw effect” of all of the developments.

He said: “RES have been very generous in cutting the number from 25 to 13.

“However, it all fits together with other developments like the one at
Aberchalder. That’s what the developers don’t show and that’s what worries
me most, not just about Culachy, but all of the windfarms.”

A spokeswoman for RES said: “We really appreciate the time people have
taken to view our revised proposals for Culachy Windfarm today.

“RES values community involvement, as we believe it plays an important part
in shaping the plans for our projects and we have seen this with our
proposals for Culachy Wind Farm.

“Following the last public exhibition we’ve made significant changes to the
wind farm – with changes to the height, number and position of the turbines.

“So far we have had some very positive comments about the changes we have
made to Culachy Windfarm.”


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