Blown to pieces

I COMPLETELY agree with Mountaineering Scotland’s David Gibson on the wind farm blight.

Considerable damage is being done to the landscape, some of which will never repair. Moray in particular is inundated by large-scale developments, most of which have subsequently also been allowed to significantly expand after the initial consent furore has died down.

The speed and scale of these applications appears, at last, to be slowing, but it is still distressing to think of what the final cumulative effect will be when the many more already consented, but not yet started, are also built.

The massive Dorenell wind farm on the edge of, and visible from, the Cairngorms National Park is under construction and it is now clear that this involves shifting and permanently damaging huge areas of hillside and moorland in Upper Glenfiddich.

Ironically the similar, but smaller, disruption of the complicated and sensitive geology and ecology involved in putting the associated transmission line underground was strongly objected to by Scottish Natural Heritage so now a high line of pylons has been added to the negative visual impact on this planning policy designated ‘Area of Great Landscape Value’ and the landscape setting of the iconic hilltop ruin of Auchindoun Castle.

What are the chances that those in government and their advisers who have shaped, consented or acquiesced this development will ever

come to site to realistically review the effect their actions have made to the amenity of residents and international visitors? Very small I suspect. COLIN MACKENzIE, Dufftown, Banffshire. I lOOk forward to the day Scotland is free. Free of wind farms and free of the windbags in the SNP who are trashing the countryside with them. PHIL JOHNSON, Bishopton, Renfrewshire.