The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) has lodged an objection with the West Dunbartonshire Council against a proposed wind farm at Merkins Farm in the Kilpatrick Hills Regional Scenic Area. The proposed wind farm would be located just three kilometres from the southern boundary of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
The MCofS has argued against the planning application because a wind farm in this location would be contrary to the purposes of its Regional Scenic Area designation. It would seriously undermine the landscape quality of the Regional Scenic Area and the setting of the National Park. As such it would be contrary to adopted policies in the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Structure Plan, the West Dunbartonshire Local Plan and Scottish Planning Policy.
The MCofS considers that the applicant’s assessment of the proposal significantly undervalues the importance of the landscape quality and character, which the West Dunbartonshire Council has a statutory duty to conserve.
Commenting on the objection, MCofS Chief Officer, David Gibson, said: “If the application is approved, 10 white turbines on the skyline would welcome visitors to this internationally recognised scenic area at the main southern gateway of the National Park. These would be visible from the popular hills around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, such as The Cobbler, Ben Lomond, Ben Venue and Ben Ledi. This wind farm proposal is not in a suitable location and should not be supported by the West Dunbartonshire Council.”
The MCofS’s objection to the proposed Merkins windfarm can be found at the MCofS website.