Billionaire to fight windfarm decision

The Danish billionaire who owns nearly a dozen estates in Scotland is to take the Scottish Government to court this week over a major windfarm battle which threatens the view from his land.

Anders Povlsen is seeking a judicial review tomorrow into the decision to allow a controversial windfarm in Sutherland.

Mr Povlsen is furious over the Scottish Government giving permission for the windfarm on the Altnaharra estate, owned by Jim Gray, 82, the founder of the Gray & Adams transport company, in Fraserburgh.

A “local” petition used to back the windfarm bid was alleged to have been hijacked by people from Doncaster, Dunfermline and Fraserburgh.

Gray & Adams also has branches in Dunfermline and Doncaster.

Opposition politicians have demanded that the Scottish Government reconsider its decision to approve the 22-turbine Creag Riabhach development, since local support for the project was one of the main arguments ministers relied on in giving it the go-ahead.

Mr Povlsen’s Wildland Ltd confirmed it was seeking a judicial review at Scotland’s supreme civil court of the controversial decision and had lodged its application with the Court of Session.

The Creag Riabhach turbines will be visible from several of Mr Povlsen’s properties.