Written by Donna MacAllister
Plans for 10 turbines at Druim Ba between Kiltarlity and Abriachan have
been rejected after a second public inquiry.
A Scottish Government reporter dismissed the appeal and refused planning
permission for the scheme on Blairmore Estate.
There were fears the scheme would ruin the views and spoil people’s
enjoyment of area, which welcomes tens of thousands of visitors every year.
Hilda Hesling, a member of Inverness West Community Council which objected
to the plans, said the result was down to a “wonderful community campaign”.
“It was a David and Goliath struggle,” she said.
Boralex, the French company behind the scheme, said it “regrets this
decision” but looked forward to developing other on-going projects in Scotland.
Boralex massively scaled-back the scheme after it was turned down in an
earlier bid.
DBSE previously submitted an application for 23 turbines but this was
rejected by Highland Council and the Scottish Government in 2012.
A government reporter announced the latest decision on Thursday.
He considered the development would have “significant cumulative effects”
on the Great Glen Way, and would be “a dominant feature” at Ardendrain, as
well as prominent from the A833 Kiltarlity to Drumnadrochit road.
His list of reasons against the scheme included his assessment that views
from Kiltarlity, Abriachan, Beauly Railway Station, Braes of Kilmorack and
from the summit of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh would be significantly or mildly
affected.
He said the turbines would be “sometimes audible” and a “dominant element
of the experience” from the forest road to Achpopuli – and there would be
significant cumulative effect on the landscape where other windfarms are
visible.
Hilda Hesling, a member of Inverness West Community Council, said: “The
whole campaign was a wonderful community effort, with many people
contributing, not because any of us are against renewables, but because it
was a dreadful place for such a development. It was a David and Goliath
struggle. That is the real story.”
Wind farm campaigner Lyndsey Ward said: “The community has had seven years
of wind farm developers trying to get a wind farm in that area. Let that be
an end to it and give the community some peace.”
Julie Cusson, the company’s director of public affairs and communications,
said: “While Druim Ba Sustainable Energy regrets this decision, the company
looks forward to Boralex continuing to develop several other on-going
projects in Scotland. At this time, there are no plans for an appeal.”
Gillian Bishop
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