Turbine for scenic estate gets the go-ahead – The Herald

A CONTROVERSIAL wind-turbine project – in a national scenic area, on land
owned by a conservation body – has been given planning permission.

The application by a community group to build the single turbine on
moorland near Achiltibuie on the Coigach coast attracted more than 600
objections and messages of support.

Objectors fear the turbine will damage the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic
Area and could harm the local tourist trade.

But the Coigach Community Development Company said the £2 million,
900-kilowatt turbine could provide an income of £200,000 a year.

Highland Council planners deferred considering it last month to look closer
at the landscape impact. They have now given the scheme the go-ahead.

The site is in the Ben Mor Coigach estate owned by the Scottish Wildlife Trust.