{"id":8276,"date":"2013-02-13T08:27:40","date_gmt":"2013-02-13T08:27:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/?p=8276"},"modified":"2021-01-17T13:14:11","modified_gmt":"2021-01-17T13:14:11","slug":"mountaineers-welcome-wind-farm-decisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/mountaineers-welcome-wind-farm-decisions\/","title":{"rendered":"Mountaineers welcome wind farm decisions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"turbine\"<\/a>The MCofS welcomed the news that The Highland Council North Planning Committee decided to reject 2 massive onshore wind farm planning proposals.<\/p>\n

The section 36 proposals which were determined are:<\/p>\n

Glemorie Wind Farm: to the north of Dingwall with a proposed 34 turbines and 35 kilometres of access track. The MCofS originally objected to the proposal because it contravenes The Highland Council\u2019s own policy on onshore wind farm locations.<\/p>\n

Dalnessie Wind Farm: 13 km North East of Lairg comprising 27 wind turbines and associated infrastructure, including 20 km of new access track. Each turbine would be up to 121 metres high to blade tip. The MCofS originally objected to the development because it would not be in accordance with the Highland Council\u2019s Development Plan<\/p>\n

David Gibson, MCofS Chief Officer stated: \u201cWe objected to these industrial-scale proposals on the grounds that they were inappropriate developments which contravened Highland Council planning policy; they would have a significant visual impact on the mountains and other wild land, and adversely affect a broad swathe of Scotland\u2019s finest landscapes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe that members of the Planning Committee have acted in the best interests of their constituents, and in the broader public interest, as custodians of some unique and very special landscapes. However, we still fail to understand why Highland Council planning officials originally recommended that the Council should \u2018raise no objection\u2019 to Glenmorie and Dalnessie given their own policy and the obvious and intrusive impact on recognised and designated landscape areas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe MCofS is not opposed to onshore wind farms and we have objected to only 6% of the onshore developments tracked by Scottish Natural Heritage.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe seek protection for the mountains through changes to Scottish Government planning policy. We have called repeatedly for the introduction of a national spatial planning policy for onshore wind farm developments which would give protection to precious mountain landscapes and at the same time offer developers guidance on where wind farms could be located.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe present planning free-for-all, which encourages inappropriate and speculative developments, and in which the Scottish Government is placing unreasonable pressure on local authorities to process and approve developments, is not a recipe for success. The Scottish Government, despite their repeated and empty assurances that such protection exists, must act to provide protection for our superb landscapes. Given this is the Year of Natural Scotland, we believe that is the minimum they should do.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The MCofS welcomed the news that The Highland Council North Planning Committee decided to reject 2 massive onshore wind farm planning proposals. The section 36 proposals which were determined are: Glemorie Wind Farm: to the north of Dingwall with a proposed 34 turbines and 35 kilometres of access track. The MCofS originally objected to the proposal because it contravenes The Highland Council\u2019s own policy on onshore wind farm locations. Dalnessie Wind Farm: 13 km North East of Lairg comprising 27 wind turbines and associated infrastructure, including 20 km of new access track. Each turbine would be up to 121 metres…<\/span> <\/p>\n

Read more ›<\/div>\n

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