By Sue Restan
A charity has warned building giant turbines in one of the Highlands’ most
picturesque areas could have a “disastrous impact” on Scotland’s reputation
for spectacular landscape.
The stark prediction from wild land organisation the John Muir Trust was
delivered on the eve of a Holyrood debate on the issue.
The trust said the proposed Talladh-a-Bheithe windfarm would ruin views
from 5% of Scotland’s 282 Munros, including Buachaille Etive Mor and
Schiehallion.
It claims Rannoch Moor – celebrated in books such as Robert Louis
Stevenson’s Kidnapped and films including The 39 Steps and Trainspotting –
is one of the largest remaining wild areas in Scotland and a defining
landscape for the country’s identity abroad.
Outlander author Diana Gabaldon has also criticised plans for the scheme
near Loch Rannoch, where scenes for the new TV serialisation of her work
were filmed, saying it would be “a tragedy” and “a disaster”.
Netherlands-based developer Eventus BV wants to erect 24 turbines up to
410ft tall between Loch Rannoch and Loch Ericht. There have been about
1,000 objections to the scheme.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has highlighted the “significant adverse
effect” the windfarm would have on the special landscape characteristics of
both areas.
The turbines would also be visible from tourist routes the West Highland
railway line and the A82 Fort William-Glasgow road.
The trust pointed out that the proposal was in one of SNH’s
newly-identified Wild Land Areas and said it flew in the face of 2014
Scottish Government planning guidelines which recently committed to value
and protect Scotland’s wildest landscapes.
Head of policy, Helen McDade, said: “This proposal could be damaging to
Scotland’s international image.
“This development threatens to turn one of Scotland’s most famed landscapes
of open moor and mountain grandeur into a semi-industrial landscape.
“I’m all for sensitively-sited low carbon energy, but you really couldn’t
dream up a worse place to put a massive windfarm in Scotland.
“With Scotland’s reputation for stunning landscapes at stake, I hope and
expect our MSPs to stand up for wild Rannoch.”
Other objectors include the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS),
Keep Rannoch Wild, the Cairngorms National Park Authority and the Scottish
Environment Protection Agency.
MCofS chief officer, David Gibson, said: “Such places are at the heart of
Scotland’s cultural identity and history, they are essential for our
recreation, wellbeing and enjoyment.
“And in economic terms they are absolutely vital for our film and tourism
industries.”
And an SNH spokesman said: “We have advised the developer over the last
three years of the sensitivity of this location for a development of this
type and scale.
“We support having the right development in the right place.”
Mid Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser will lead a private
members’ debate on the issue at Holyrood this afternoon.
Last night, he said: “SNP government ministers must use Talladh-a-Bheithe
to send out a clear message to developers that wild land is not for
windfarms. Renewable energy has a place, but certainly not in areas such as
this.
“In June, I cautioned that despite the government’s new planning
guidelines, wind developments could still be possible on wild land.
“Ministers have already conceded that ‘wild land is a nationally important
asset’ and failing to protect Rannoch Moor could endanger wild land across
the rest of Scotland.”
An Eventus BV spokesman said: “We are currently in the process of analysing
all consultee feedback and will respond through the appropriate channels in
due course.”
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