Never mind Nessie, the true monsters are turbines that are wrecking landscape

Why are we still debating whether spearing industrial hardware into our iconic landscapes deters visitors? Environmentalists have warned for years that the vital tourism industry in Scotland was severely threatened by excessive deployment of onshore wind. I know of at least two prestigious businesses local to me which did their own surveys among guests when a German multinational threat- ened a huge 25-turbine development in beautiful Strathglass near Glen Affric.

The resounding majority said the potential turbines would affect their willingness to return. Some say they don’t mind turbines as much as the huge latticed pylons with thick glistening transmission lines strung across the skyline. This shows the extent of the misunderstanding of wind energy many members of the public have. Environment-shattering pylon lines like the horrendous Beauly to Denny one are there because of wind turbines, as confirmed by former energy minister Fergus Ewing, in a meeting with anti-wind campaigners. The alien Beauly substation is so vast it is only visible in its entirety from the air and continues to emit the pulsing “Beauly Buzz” that has disturbed the peace and sleep of residents and visitors.

Four years ago Alex Salmond was handed a petition by the widow of broadcaster and naturalist Tom Weir signed by thousands of people from around the world, begging him to stop the reckless siting of wind farms in Scotland. He smiled for the photo and accepted the file of pleas from potential visitors to protect our precious and irreplaceable landscapes at Bute House after refusing to meet antiwind campaigners at the SNP conference in Inverness.

He did nothing to alter his policy, or course. He ignored his own people’s concerns and that of those who would spend their money here. The current SNP administration is following in his footsteps, deaf to all but the wind industry as they lobby ferociously on their behalf at Westminster.

With hundreds of turbines still threatening our country, including more than 500 around Loch Ness, and despite the increasing millions we pay to turn them off because of no demand, these true monsters of Scotland are not viewed with affection like Nessie and could well be responsible for the death of an industry that has sustained rural communities for generations. LYNDSEY WARD

Darach Brae Beauly, Inverness-shire