By Jane Candlish
Writing exclusively for the Press and Journal, the chief executive of the
National Trust for Scotland, Kate Mavor, outlines the NTS’s reasons for
joining the fight against the Stronelairg windfarm.
“As many readers will know, the National Trust for Scotland is backing the
John Muir Trust’s legal challenge to the Stronelairg windfarm.
“We are not in principle opposed to renewable energy generally, nor to wind
power specifically. As a conservation charity we are supportive of any
action that can contribute towards tackling climate change and saving
delicate ecosystems.
“We have always striven to encourage policy-makers and developers to strike
a balance between providing renewable energy infrastructure and conserving
valuable and unique landscapes. We support renewable projects so long as
every effort has been made to achieve this balance.
“Like everyone in Scotland, we need assurance that there is a fair process
in place to consider each development proposal in detail. Indeed, we are
considering renewable energy schemes ourselves and applying the same kinds
of tests of appropriateness, proportionality and environmental impact we
expect of others.
“Why then are we so concerned about Stronelairg? There are four main reasons:
“1 – The scheme cannot be described as ‘proportionate’ given its scale and
visibility from a very wide area. Stronelaig dwarfs virtually every other
development in comparable locations: the visual and ecological impact of 67
turbines up to 440ft in height over an area comparable to the city of
Inverness will be devastating.
“2 – We are justifiably worried that the turbines and associated access
roads and tracks will cause serious and irreparable damage to peatland
eco-systems – the latter act as a ‘sink’ for storing carbon that would
otherwise be released into the atmosphere. The Monadhliath Mountains
support one of Europe’s most extensive tracts of upland blanket bog which
locks in up to 20 times as much carbon per acre as the average British
woodland.
“3 – The Scottish Government has pledged to protect wild land and yet in
this instance has ignored the expert advice and objections of its own
agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, as well as the Cairngorms National Park
Authority.
“It has been customary when these agencies lodge objections in such
circumstances to trigger a public local inquiry. The Scottish Government’s
refusal to do this calls into question the sincerity of their pledge and
the fitness for purpose of the safeguards to protect wild land.
“4 – Our anxieties about the effectiveness of wild land protection are
exacerbated by the John Muir Trust’s discovery, following a Freedom of
Information request, that the Scottish Government caused Scottish Natural
Heritage to have Stronelairg removed from the draft Wild Land Areas Map.
“Had SNH’s recommendation stood the outcome of the Stronelairg decision may
well have been entirely different. Our confidence that the national system
to protect wild land is ‘functional and fair’ can only be shaken.
“It is difficult for charities to muster the time and resources needed to
challenge well-funded interests; Scotland’s natural heritage deserves more
in-depth lines of defence. Whatever the outcome in the Court of Session
regarding Stronelairg, we must ensure that future onshore wind farm
applications are treated fairly and robustly through processes that cannot
be circumvented for the sake of expediency.”
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