The Save the Monadhliath Mountains’ (SMM) campaign group is planning a peaceful demonstration outside the Council headquarters in Inverness on Tuesday 20 December, against the controversial Allt Duine wind farm development planned for the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. The protest will be held between 9am and 10:30am timed to coincide with a Planning meeting by the Council to discuss the application. Organisers say that anyone against the windfarm is welcome at the protest. SMM says that it is not anti-wind farms in general but believes that the sheer number of developments planned in the area will mean a real loss of wild landscape and that tourism will be badly affected.
SMM campaigners will be arguing that to build a large onshore wind farm in an area of unspoilt wild land, and in an area that the Council wishes to protect, would be devastating and a step too far and that a full public inquiry should be launched by the Scottish Government.
Formal objections have been lodged with the Scottish Government by the Cairngorms National Park Authority, the John Muir Trust, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, Scottish Campaign for National Parks and key local estates.
Outdoor author, photographer and former President of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, Chris Townsend, is a spokesman for the SMM campaign and will be leading the demonstration outside the Highland Council headquarters on Tuesday 20th December.
Chris says: “Tuesday marks a critical stage in the Save the Monadhliath Mountains campaign. As the Council meet to discuss the Allt Duine wind farm proposal, we want to send a very clear and visible message to councilors that our supporters strongly believe Allt Duine is a wind farm too far.”
“The proposed Allt Duine wind farm represents one of 11 wind farms that either already exists or are at the planning application stage in the Cairngorms National Park area alone. We’re very concerned about the cumulative effect of turbines on the unspoilt landscape of Scotland’s largest national park and the potential damage to the area. We hope that the councillors will listen to the strength of public feeling against this application.”
Writer and broadcaster, Cameron McNeish and Chief Executive of the John Muir Trust, Stuart Brooks, are backing the campaign, along with support from over 1,200 individuals and organisations.
Anyone wanting to join the peaceful protest is asked to assemble just before 9am at the Highland Council headquarters on Glenurquhart Road in Inverness.