Mountaineers welcome Scottish Parliament debate on Rannoch plans

Scotland’s mountaineers have welcomed news that plans for a wind farm which threatens to ruin the beautiful wild land round Rannoch will be debated by the Scottish Parliament.

Talladh a Bheithe Wind Farm Ltd wants to build 24 wind turbines, each 125 metres tall, together with the wide access tracks, buildings and infrastructure, on spectacular moorland between Loch Rannoch and Loch Ericht.

Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, has secured a members’ debate on 30th September on the proposed industrial-scale development. He has already put a motion before the parliament which backed the MCofS and John Muir Trust in their campaign to resist the scheme.

It is hoped that MSPs of all parties will voice clear opposition to an industrial scale development which would be in clear breach of the Scottish Government’s promise to protect the country’s rapidly diminishing areas of wild land.

David Gibson, MCofS Chief Officer, said: “Hundreds of residents, businesses, mountaineers and others have written to object to this scheme which would have a massive visual impact across Rannoch Moor. Because of the open vista of the moor, this single development would significantly reduce Scotland’s remaining wild land. Development here would destroy something precious.

“This is a chance for the Scottish Parliament to show that it is listening to the people and declare that it is unacceptable to industrialise our most beautiful landscapes.

“It is essential for our parliament to ensure that Ministers keep their word on the protection of wild land and do not hand over our natural heritage so developers can make huge profits.”

The Talladh a Bheithe wind farm will be the first major test of the Scottish Government’s new planning guidance on wind farms.

The proposed wind farm would affect views from Schiehallion, the Ben Alder massif, the mountains above Glen Lyon and Loch Tay and some above the Drumochter Pass. It would even be visible from the main A82 on the far side of Rannoch Moor, from the West Highland railway, and from Buachaille Etive Mor beyond.

The MCofS does not oppose wind farms and has only objected to around one in twenty applications – where they threaten valuable mountain landscapes and wild lands.