CAMPAIGNERS CALL FOR URGENT ACTION AS GOVERNMENT ADMITS CARELESS WIND FARM CONSTRUCTION HAS DAMAGED ENVIRONMENT

“It’s common knowledge that wind developers can and do get away with flouting planning conditions, leaving wind farm sites environmentally and ecologically degraded. Our members have wept at the irony of this so-called green technology ravaging hillsides and moors.”

She also questioned why SNH had not publicised the report or why the issue had been left to a graduate student project to address. She added:

“The Scottish Government has willfully shut its eyes to the environmental costs of building gigantic wind turbines and its associated infrastructure. Without sufficient resources or political support, SNH has had little choice but to collude in what will seem to many people a cover-up.

“Scottish wind energy policy has not been plan-led, but developer-led. The largely foreign wind industry is only interested in claiming the huge subsidies on offer, and as with open-cast mining, we will be left with a legacy of environmental damage, which we may never be able to put right.

“The report shows bad practice by the wind industry not only destroys animal and plant life, but also constitutes a serious public health risk. Many wind farms are built on water catchment areas, and careless construction can lead to contamination of public and private water supplies.

“We call on the Energy and Environment Ministers to act urgently to prevent further unnecessary destruction. Guidance and warm words about good practice plainly don’t work. Wind developers need to know operations will be shut down until proper compensation is paid if they ignore planning conditions.”