The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) have welcomed the decision by Falck Renewables – developer of the proposed Clach Liath wind farm – not to appeal the decision by Highland Council to refuse planning permission. The windfarm would have been situated on the slopes of Meall na Speireig – a southeastern outlier of Ben Wyvis, on the edge of the National Nature Reserve and in view from much of the Black Isle.
Commenting on the news, MCofS Chief Officer David Gibson said:
“The news represents a victory for common sense, local democracy and the recognition that Scotland’s wonderful mountain landscapes should not be treated as an asset which can be milked for huge profits by multinational companies and landowners. It’s also a tribute to the many who have campaigned for this proposal to be scrapped.
“We hope that the principles which guided local councillors to reach this decision will be followed by Fergus Ewing, who as minister will have personal responsibility for making decisions on a large number of section 36 wind farm applications in the planning pipeline. Many of these proposed developments would, if allowed to proceed, ruin much of Scotland’s iconic highland landscape forever.
“We have been asking the Scottish Government to implement measures to safeguard Scotland’s mountains from such developments through the implementation of a national spatial planning policy for onshore wind farms. Unless protective measures are put in place, there will be many more proposals like Clach Liath, which will threaten the landscape, cause local authorities to spend time and money on speculative planning applications, and threaten the livelihoods of tourism businesses in fragile rural areas. It’s time for the Scottish Government to show leadership now and protect Scotland’s finest natural asset – its landscape”.