On Monday afternoon, Highland Council’s planning committee will decide whether to object to the controversial Stronelairg wind power proposal in the heart of the Monadhliath Mountains above Loch Ness. The meeting will follow a site visit by the councillors that morning.
Scotland’s wild land charity, the John Muir Trust, and the representative body for its climbers and hillwalkers, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, have both called upon the councillors to follow in the footsteps of their counterparts on the North Planning Advisory Committee who recently objected to two proposed wind developments on wild land.
The government’s own agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, has warned that the Monadhliath Mountains would cease to be a recognised ‘search area for wild land’ if the development goes ahead. The Cairngorm National Park Authority has also condemned the proposal, insisting that landscape and visual impacts along the edge of the park would be ‘significant, adverse, and in some locations overwhelming’.
Helen McDade, Head of Policy for the John Muir Trust, said: “The Stronelairg development would be spread across a core area of wild land larger than the city of Inverness, with turbines higher than the Forth Road Bridge.”
She urged councillors on the planning committee to act consistently with the council’s recent decision to object to the Dalnessie and Glenmorie developments to the north of the Great Glen, and in line with a growing groundswell of support for the enhanced protection of wild land which, according to press reports this week, has support within the Scottish Government
“It would be irrational for Glenmorie and Dalnessie wind farms to be subject to a Public Local Inquiry, while Stronelairg, which is larger than both of these combined, is allowed to go through without any public scrutiny.”
She also derided the claim by SSE that Stronelairg can no longer be classified as ‘wild land’ because it is close to Glendoe Hydro Scheme. “In 2008 the John Muir Trust hailed the Glendoe Hydro Scheme as a ‘great achievement’ and congratulated SSE on preserving the wild character of the area by minimising landscape and environmental impacts. It is bizarre and disingenuous of SSE to now justify the vandalism of wild land by falsely claiming that they have already destroyed it.
“We would respectfully request that councillors should be consistent in their approach to large wind proposals in search areas for wild land, and object to the Stronelairg development in line with the council’s existing policy – and with the emerging policy at national level – of protecting wild land.”
David Gibson, MCofS Chief Officer, said: “Monday is a critical day for the Scottish mountains and Highland councillors have it in their power to send a strong message to the big power companies that they cannot simply industrialise our landscapes for their own profits.
“It is entirely irresponsible to propose that a huge power plant, with 83 immense turbines, mile upon mile of wide tracks, plus buildings and masts should be built in mountains which should be cherished and protected for the nation and Scotland’s many visitors to enjoy.
“We repeatedly hear from the Scottish Government that it is committed to ‘suitably-located’ onshore wind farms and that it gives the ‘right level of protection to important landscapes’. If that is the case, how can proposals such as Stronelairg even get to the planning stage?
“Recent media reports suggest that Mr Salmond has begun listening to those who care for Scotland’s countryside, but he has so far done nothing. By rejecting this scheme Highland Council will demonstrate that the time has come for the First Minister to show real leadership by acting to protect our mountains in this Year of Natural Scotland, through the implementation of new and effective planning policy.”