By Mark Mackay
Conservation groups, residents, mountaineers and politicians have united in
the fight to protect Highland Perthshire’s wildlife and natural environment.
Hugely controversial plans for an industrial scale windfarm in the heart of
some of “Scotland’s most precious wild lands” have led to almost
unprecedented opposition.
The application by a Dutch firm to create the 24-turbine Talladh-a-Bheithe
scheme at Rannoch was made on the very day the Scottish Government declared
such areas should be better protected.
It has caused such anger that already nearly 1,000 objections have been
received and there has been a debate in the Scottish Parliament and the
formation of a campaign to prevent the development ever becoming a reality.
There has also been strong opposition from Scottish Natural Heritage and
the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Efforts to block the proposals have been led by the Mountaineering Council
of Scotland (MCofS), the John Muir Trust (JMT) and Keep Rannoch Wild and
they have received celebrity backing from figures such as best-selling
Outlander author Diana Gabaldon.
The three bodies are now calling on developer Eventus BV to abandon its plans.
“Wind energy is supposed to help us protect the environment, not ruin the
most precious and beautiful parts of our country,” said MCofS chief officer
David Gibson.
“We are calling on the developers to recognise that this application has
been a huge mistake something that is absolutely clear from the enormous
level of opposition.”
Eventus BV has said it will consider all feedback before deciding how to
proceed.
The firm, through the wholly-owned UK subsidiary Talladh-a-Bheithe Wind
Farm Ltd, has applied to build turbines measuring 125m from ground to blade
tip in Highland Perthshire.
They would be accompanied by access tracks, buildings and infrastructure
and would produce a significant amount of power for the country.
Opponents, however, claim the scheme would destroy “the special landscape
qualities of one of Scotland’s last remaining and most loved areas of
wilderness”.
They say that there is growing evidence that the windfarm would do grave
harm to wildlife including an estimate by SNH that the turbines will kill
a golden eagle every 19 months and endanger otters, ospreys and other species.
The development could also affect views from more than 30 of Scotland’s
Munros, including the famous Schiehallion, the Ben Alder massif, mountains
above Glen Lyon, the Drumochter Hills and Buachaille Etive Mor, and would
be visible from the West Highland Railway line and the A82 road the main
tourist route through the area.
Mr Gibson added: “Only by withdrawing this misguided, damaging and unwanted
proposal can they make it clear that they, and their industry, have a
genuine commitment to protecting the environment and are not just trying to
make vast profits at the expense of Scotland’s natural heritage.”
The John Muir Trust, meanwhile, has said the scheme is “a knife in the
heart of Scotland’s natural beauty”, describing Rannoch as one of the
country’s “most stunning areas of wild land”.
Residents and businesses are also deeply opposed to the project, with a
poll showing that three out of four want it blocked.
The economy is highly dependent on tourists who visit the area for its wild
and unspoiled qualities to climb mountains, go walking and see the
wildlife and there are fears this would be threatened.
Douglas Wynn of Keep Rannoch Wild said: “This is a speculative and totally
insensitive proposal which would do great damage if, by any unfortunate
chance, it was allowed.
“It is strongly opposed by most residents and we ask the applicant to
listen and respect their neighbours’ opinions.”
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