Macbeth fort threat

A SCOTTISH king’s fort, made famous by Shakespeare, now faces “desecration” at the hands of windfarm developers, campaigners have claimed.

The historic seat of power on Dunsinane Hill in Perthshire’s scenic Sidlaw hills could be overshadowed by Perthshire’s tallest windfarm.

The hill fort is mentioned in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, with the words “Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him”.

It is also believed to be the site of a battle in 1054 where Malcolm Canmore defeated Macbeth, who was king and who died three years later.

Now, however, the fort could share the landscape with six massive turbines under plans submitted to Perth and Kinross Council last month.

That has prompted opponents to go on the offensive, with the Save Our Sidlaws (SOS) campaign set up by the Braes of the Carse Conservation Group (BCCG), which works to protect the area’s character, heritage and communities.

It has been joined in its bid to block the turbines, which would be twice the height of the Scott Monument in Edinburgh, by a number of local groups in Perthshire and across the river Tay in Fife.

A spokesman for the group told The Courier: “This quaint and unspoilt part of Perthshire has a thriving tourist industry that is now seriously threatened by the proposed industrialisation of an area rich in heritage, wildlife and unspoilt walks.

“The unspoilt views of this historic landscape from Macbeth’s Castle — and from other parts of the Sidlaw range — will be blighted forever if Perth and Kinross Council, backed by the Scottish Government, give the go-ahead to this plan.”

“TO STOP this, the SOS campaign is being run by the BCCG in conjunction with other local groups from the various local communities affected.”

Green power developer Banks Renewables has submitted its Bandirran windfarm plan to Perth and Kinross Council in the hope of securing permission to erect six 132m turbines on the Bandirran Estate, just five miles from Perth.

The detailed proposals were submitted following extensive local consultation.

Banks’ development director Colin Anderson said: “We are absolutely committed to working with the estate and local people to create a windfarm that makes the widest positive contribution in terms of the community, environment and local economy.”

Part of the Sidlaw range, Dunsinane Hill rises to a height of 1,012ft (308 metres) to the north-east of Perth.

It was the site of an Iron Age hill fort and modern-day walkers approach the summit over ramps and ditches constructed thousands of years ago to improve the defensive capability of the site.

In more recent times, Dunsinane hill fort has become known locally as Macbeth’s Castle.

Shakespeare researched that element of his material carefully and on a clear day the woods around Birnam can be seen from the summit.

Now best-known as a murderer and usurper, historical records of the time depict Mac Bethad mac Findláich as a canny ruler whose time on Scotland’s throne was characterised by good government and the promotion of Christianity.

For more information on the SOS campaign, visit www.braesofthecarse.org/ bandirran-wind-farm or join in at www. facebook.com/SaveOurSidlaws.

Meanwhile, for an alternative view on the windfarm plan and its importance to the Bandirran estate, see tomorrow’s Courier.

The rugged beauty of Dunsinane Hill, north-east of Perth.

Dunsinane Hill