Campaign spokesman Cameron McNeish
The proposed Allt Duine wind farm represents one of 11 wind farms that either already exists or are at the planning application stage in the Cairngorms National Park area alone. With this in mind, campaigners are increasingly concerned about the cumulative effect of turbines on the unspoiled landscape of Scotland’s largest national park, so have formed a campaign group, Save the Monadhliath Mountains (SMM).
Outdoor writer and broadcaster Cameron McNeish, who is fronting the campaign said, “This campaign is not against renewables or onshore wind farms per se. What we vehemently object to is that if this proposal goes ahead, it will adversely affect the wildness and wildlife in the Monadhliath Mountains, threatening the unique character and natural beauty of this area – once that’s gone, it’s gone forever. I would urge supporters to sign our petition and in doing so send a clear message to the planners – that the proposal for Allt Duine is a wind farm too far.”
Formal objections to plans by RWE npower renewables Ltd for a large onshore wind farm at Allt Duine, located in the Monadhliath Mountains near the town of Kincraig, have already been lodged by the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the John Muir Trust and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland. Several estates close to the proposed site, Pitmain Estate, Glenfeshie Estate and Coignafearn Estate, have also submitted their objections.
While the campaign and its supporters says it is not against renewable energy in principle, they feel that the 31 turbines, the majority of which are 125m in height, which is the equivalent to a stack of 28 double-decker buses, are completely inappropriate for an area of outstanding natural beauty and would have a critical and irrevocable impact on the landscape, wildlife and ornithology of the area.
Since the SMM website went live just over a week ago, over 450 people have signed the online petition opposing the proposals including Chris Townsend, former president of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and outdoor writer/photographer.
The campaigners say, “With the site boundary of the wind farm just 400m from the national park, the permanent access and cabling route would begin within the park itself, as too would the site reception and temporary construction compound.”
“Access tracks leading to the wind farm would also cross a number of important habitats on the Scottish biodiversity list, such as blanket bog, wet heath, dry heath and lichen-rich heaths. A variety of birds of prey have also been tracked in the vicinity of the proposed site.”
“Once constructed, the wind turbines would be visible from up to 35km away, destroying further views of the striking Monadhliath Mountains. They would also be seen from the CairnGorm Mountain Railway and parts of the Rothiemurchus Estate, both of which are listed as two of the top ten visitor attractions in the Highlands, potentially having a significant impact on tourism in the area, which is vital to the local economy.”
The planning application is likely to be considered by Highland Council on 8 November. Further details about the campaign including the petition and details on how to submit an objection to Highland Council can be found at the SMM website.