Rare wildlife at risk from windfarm, ministers told

Environment: Councillors insist 19-turbine scheme would ‘destroy jewel’

Scottish Government ministers are being warned that approval for a giant windfarm at a spot in Caithness where rare wildcat and ospreys have been seen would “destroy an environmental jewel”.

There was agreement among councillors yesterday that ministers should refuse Eon’s 19-turbine Golticlay scheme proposed for a site within a mile of a Lybster crofting community.

The north area planning committee was consulted as part of the process. Due to the scale, ministers will ultimately decide if it goes ahead.

Members highlighted local opposition to the plan with 260 letters of objection and none in support. More than 500 people signed petitions against the proposal.

Officers recommended that councillors raise no objection but they voted 9-2 to oppose it.

Independent Caithness member Matthew Reiss, a former wildlife crime officer, told colleagues he had urged the government agency Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to fund a wildcat survey at the site, but was told Caithness was “not a priority area”. SNH did not respond to that yesterday when contacted by the Press and Journal.

Councillor Reiss was equally disappointed that police did not further pursue his report about a mechanical digger being used close to a spot within the proposed windfarm site where wildcat were previously reported. A spokesman for the force said: “Inquiries were carried out. These have now concluded with no evidence of criminal activity having been found.”

Mr Reiss described Golticlay as “an environmental jewel, as valuable as the Chanonry Point dolphins.”

Moving the vote, local councillor Andrew Sinclair highlighted objections registered by the Foresty Commission, the RSPB, the council’s own historic environment team – and the air traffic service which warned of an adverse effect on radar.

Councillor Craig Fraser said the wind proposal risked “environmental destruction on a level that shouldn’t be allowed”.

A spokeswoman for Eon said: “We’re disappointed. We’ve worked hard to ensure input from the local community and other stakeholders informed the design.”

How they voted – for the windfarm: Maxine Smith and Angela MacLean. Against: Andrew Sinclair, Karl Rosie, Kirsteen Currie, Calum MacLeod, Derek MacLeod, Margaret Paterson, Mike Finlayson, Richard Gale and Craig Fraser.

“We’ve worked hard to ensure inpiut from the local community

CHANGING HORIZON: An artist’s impression of how the Golticlay development might look