Protection for landscapes

SIR, – The letter by Jenny and Brian Goodall (P&J, September 24) enquired about the location and appearance of wind turbines in the Great Glen and Loch Ness area.

The evidence of over 500 turbines in the planning system for this area is publicly available on the Highland Council planning website.

Many of these turbines have been approved and have still to be built and many others are in the planning process. Once they are built it will be too late to save these landscapes and hence the need to engage now with the planning process. However, the effect of these turbines can be visualised on the video in the savelochness website.

I am sure that Jenny and Brian enjoyed their visit to the Loch Ness area but other visitors come to the area as walkers and cyclists.

The very important questions that I would ask them and other visitors are: would you consider that this area is a world-class landscape and a global attraction? If you agree do you consider that this area is incompatible with windfarm development?

I am sure that we would all agree on both counts and vigilance is required to ensure that these beautiful landscapes that draw visitors to the highlands are given protection. Jim Treasurer, Friends of the Great Glen, A Highland

Conservation Group, Upper Achintore, Fort William