TWENTY YEARS AGO Friday March 21, 2003

Tourist board wind farm concern

The controversial issue of wind farms came under the spotlight at the annual general meeting of the Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and the Trossachs Area Tourist Board.

Almost 200 delegates at the meeting at Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch, heard that applications for 57 wind farms, with at least 2,000 wind turbines, are being considered by local authorities across Scotland.

A large number of these are in scenic parts of the tourist board area. Philip Norris, of Lyall Cliff Guest House, Dunoon, who led the discussion, said: “While I am in favour of making great use of renewable energy sources, there is an overall emphasis on developing wind farms, which could seriously impact on tourism, since surveys consistently confirm visitors are attracted to the area because of its special scenic qualities and the unspoiled nature of the landscape.”

Other issues discussed including the impact of the impending war on Iraq on local tourism and future transport and road improvement plans.

In his review, chairman Billy Petrie referred to the resilience of the tourism industry against such a background.

“Tourism is the main engine of the local economy and is now worth £616 million a year, supporting 20,000 jobs,” he said.

“I am confident it will continue to be a major force for good in all parts of the boards area, long after other industries have come and gone.”

Mr Petrie highlighted projects like the tourism complex at the southern end of Loch Lomond, the Falkirk Wheel, the Millennium Link and the Argyll Atlantic islands programme, which is helping islanders showcase the heritage of their islands more effectively – as being achievements of the past year. He said forging partnerships with other area tourist boards and VisitScotland has allowed the board to tap into European funding to bolster marketing campaigns.