The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Anger over wind farm
RSPB Scotland hits out
RSPB Scotland last night attacked the Scottish Government for approving a giant wind farm in the heart of one of the Highlands’ most important landscapes.
Three years after a public inquiry and after months of deliberation
“Decision sits very awkwardly with ministers’ commitments”
and consultation, Scottish ministers yesterday granted planning consent to SSE’s Strathy South plan.
There has been significant local support for the plan, with many members of the community and politicians believing the benefits it will bring to the economy and jobs market are to be welcomed.
RSPB Scotland, however, fears it will do more harm than good. A spokeswoman said: “The Scottish ministers’ approval of the Strathy South wind farm is desperately disappointing.
“Strathy South is right in the very heart of the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area and Ramsar, a European and internationally important place for wildlife.
“The decision to approve a wind farm in this extremely sensitive location sits very awkwardly with Scottish ministers’ commitments to maintain the highest international environmental standards.”
MSP Edward Mountain added his voice to that of the RSPB saying: “Local views were clearly overruled. I believe that local planning decisions should be made locally. Anything else flies in the face of democracy.”
The project is far from lacking local support, however, with the chairwoman of Strathy and Armadale Community Council, Janette Mackay, welcoming the Scottish Government’s decision.
She hopes the community will see significant benefits from the wind farm and said: “After waiting nearly three years for the result of the public inquiry we are delighted to learn that Strathy South has been given the go-ahead.
“We can now look forward to seeing the work start up again with all the benefits that brings to our young workers, businesses and the north coast area, which has been sadly neglected.”
That view was echoed by Caithness, Sutherland and Ross SNP MSP Gail Ross who said: “This development has always been supported by the community and I am pleased that the Scottish Government considered the strong support it received.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The decision by Scottish ministers to grant approval of the application to construct the Strathy South wind farm took into account the DPEA (Planning and Environmental Appeals Division) appointed Reporter’s recommendations after a public local inquiry. All issues raised by members of the public and other interested parties were considered during the complex consideration process which included a site visit by the minister for business, innovation and energy.
“In reaching a determination, ministers balanced the reported potential impacts of the development against the associated economic, renewable energy and climate change benefits and concluded that, on balance, the estimated benefits outweighed suggested adverse impacts, with many of the environmental concerns identified by objectors having been appropriately addressed.”