{"id":11915,"date":"2014-11-21T08:54:07","date_gmt":"2014-11-21T08:54:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/?p=11915"},"modified":"2014-11-21T09:35:35","modified_gmt":"2014-11-21T09:35:35","slug":"national-trust-for-scotland-backs-stronelairg-legal-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/national-trust-for-scotland-backs-stronelairg-legal-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"National Trust for Scotland backs Stronelairg legal challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scotland\u2019s largest conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland, is urging its members to support a legal challenge being made against the Scottish Government.<\/p>\n

The NTS is contacting its 320,000 members to ask them to lend support to the John Muir Trust\u2019s campaign to have a decision by the Government to allow a city-sized wind farm to be constructed in the Highlands quashed \u2013 a decision that was made in the face of objections from the Government\u2019s own advisors.<\/p>\n

The John Muir Trust (JMT) is taking its case to the Court of Session in early 2015 with the objective of halting construction of the wind farm.<\/p>\n

The National Trust for Scotland\u2019s Chief Executive, Kate Mavor said: <\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough the proposed wind farm is not directly adjacent to any of our properties, it will be visible from large swathes of the Cairngorms National Park and we are supporting this campaign on principle.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not opposed to renewable energy developments by any means, so long as they are suitably located, are proportionate and subject to public scrutiny. We think there are serious questions to be answered about the way the Stronelairg wind farm was approved and what it might mean for Scotland\u2019s wild lands.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Millenium windfarm seen from the Monadhliath<\/p><\/div>The NTS Director of Conservation Services and Projects, Terry Levinthal added:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 67 turbines, up to 135 metres tall, will cover an area the size of Inverness within the Monadhliath Mountains, bounding a Special Area of Conservation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIronically, their construction will require thousands of tonnes of steel and concrete to be placed on top of significant peatlands and their eco-systems. These act as a natural carbon \u2018sink\u2019, tying up greenhouse gasses that could otherwise accelerate climate change.
\n\u201cWe find it particularly disturbing that the Government\u2019s own agency, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), and the Cairngorms National Park Authority both objected to the development yet their protests were ignored.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has also been suggested that SNH\u2019s efforts to have Stronelairg added to the Wild Land Areas Map, which would have afforded a measure of protection from development, were stymied. Given the precedent this enormous wind farm may set, the implications for the conservation of wild land are deeply concerning.\u201d<\/p>\n

The NTS is contacting its membership by e-mail and social media. It is suggesting that help could be given to the campaign by writing to Ministers and MSPs and by making personal donations to the John Muir Trust\u2019s legal fund.
\nThe JMT\u2019s request for a Protective Expenses Order was refused by the court which means that they could be liable for the Government\u2019s and Scottish and Southern Energy\u2019s costs if their legal action is unsuccessful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Scotland\u2019s largest conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland, is urging its members to support a legal challenge being made against the Scottish Government. The NTS is contacting its 320,000 members to ask them to lend support to the John Muir Trust\u2019s campaign to have a decision by the Government to allow a city-sized wind farm to be constructed in the Highlands quashed \u2013 a decision that was made in the face of objections from the Government\u2019s own advisors. The John Muir Trust (JMT) is taking its case to the Court of Session in early 2015 with the objective of…<\/span> <\/p>\n

Read more ›<\/div>\n

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