Wild landscape ‘sacrificed for wind farm profits’

MOUNTAINEERS have made a final appeal to save a remnant of a ‘great’ Highland landscape from being ‘sacrificed’ to wind industry profits.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland says the Scottish Government has given permission for so many huge developments in the Monadhliath Mountains that the precious area will be destroyed.

If given consent by Highland Council, Coriolis Energy’s recent application for the Dell wind farm at Whitebridge, Invernessshire, would place a further 13 turbines along the western side of the range.

Together with existing consents, the development would mean that turbines will stretch for more than 30 miles – from north of the A9 to the Corrieyairack Pass. David Gibson of MCofS said: ‘This vast area of the Monadhliath has largely been sacrificed to the profits of big power companies, wind farm developers and major landowners.

‘The Scottish Government has recently been claiming that it is a champion of the natural environment which it regards as a “valued national asset”, while simultaneously giving permission for a whole string of industrial- scale developments that will wreck the character of a fabulous area of the Highlands. To the east, there is one final chance for ministers to save a fragment of this area by rejecting proposals for the massive Allt Duine wind farm, which threatens the Cairngorms National Park.

‘This is [the Scottish Government’s] opportunity to live up to claims that it wishes to protect National Parks – let’s hope it isn’t squandered.’