Campaigners prepare for another fight against windfarm- Press and Journal

By David Kerr

A north community is preparing for another battle after new plans for a
windfarm near Inverness – in the same area where a larger development had
previously been refused.

New plans for 10 turbines in Glen Convinth near Kiltarlity have been
released by Druim Ba Sustainable Energy – the same company who had
previously applied for 23 devices in the same area.

The original plan prompted a large outcry from local residents and was
refused permission by the Scottish Government in 2013 after a public
campaign and opposition from Highland Council and local community councils.

Local campaigners flew a red blimp over a property nearest the planned
location to show how tall the proposed structures would be and opposition
to the plans prompted a public inquiry ahead of the decision by energy
minister Fergus Ewing, who said that the turbines would have “significant
adverse” impact on the landscape.

The new plans were revealed after a proposal of application notice was sent
to affected community councils.

In it the company say that the development would be built on the Blairmore
Estate in common with the initial application, each standing 413ft tall.

Denise Davies, who led the campaign against the original Druim Ba, said:
“The shame of it all is their lack of empathy with the local community that
was wholly against their first proposal.

“Their arrogance and obsessive pursuit of a development that, despite being
slightly smaller and moved slightly to the south-west, could be perceived
as inhuman.

“So far I have yet to speak to a single person about their new proposal
that has thought, ‘Yes, this one should be OK’.

“The fact of the matter is the local people, the Highland Council, and the
Scottish Government all agreed that that area was unsuitable for a wind
farm and Druim Ba should cut its loses, move on, and leave the community in
peace.”

Fellow campaigner Lyndsey Ward said the community would “never accept” the
windfarm.

She added: “This recent action by Druim Ba Sustainable Energy is abhorrent.

“They were in no doubt last time they tried for a wind farm in Glen
Convinth that the community was solidly against them.

“Here they are again like some recurring nightmare fully prepared to
subject the same people to more months and years of misery, stress and
financial cost.”

The company did not respond to requests for comment yesterday.