Following on from the recently submitted plans for a windfarm at Dunmaglass in the Monadhliath, energy company RWE npower has submitted an application to construct a new windfarm at Allt Duine, 5 miles from Aviemore and Kincraig and on the very edge of the Cairngorms National Park.
The windfarm would consist of 31 turbines, each over 400 feet tall, in an area whose economy is completely dominated by tourism.
Andrew Brien, chair of Kincraig Community Council, was reported by the Press and Journal as saying ‘The community council does not yet have a view on this, which is why we are planning a public meeting. We will take a show of hands and then let Highland Council and the Scottish Government know what the response was.’
Highland Council’s planning committee will give its views on the application, but the final decision will be made by the Scottish Government.
Well known outdoors personality Cameron McNeish – who lives locally – said that ‘In anybody’s eyes this is an enormous and potentially devastating development that will completely change the wild open character of this part of the Monadh Liath and dominate all the fantastic long views north from the Cairngorm summits. The fact that it will lie so close to the National Park boundary surely makes it completely unacceptable.’
A spokesperson for the energy company said that ‘the design of the windfarm has now been reduced from 34 to 31 turbines with a maximum height to blade tip of 125 metres’ following feedback from consultees.
The plans can be viewed at Highland Council’s offices in Glenurquhart Road in Inverness or at Kincraig Post Office, Badenoch Library and Learning Centre or Aviemore Library.
People have until April 13 to give their views. Kincraig Community Council have not confirmed when the public meeting about the windfarm will be held, but it is envisaged it will be on Monday, April 4, at 7.30pm in Kincraig Community Hall.