Revised Plans for Lochluichart Wind Farm

A friend of mine who lives in Wester Ross has emailed me with details of a public meeting he attended in Garve the other night. The developers of one of the most intrusive wind farm proposals outlined revised plans to the local community. According to my contact the proposal to reduce the number of turbines from 43 to 22 does nothing to alleviate concerns over damage to the landscape.
If you want to know more about the proposal have a look at the following websites - Pro and Anti. I should add that most of the mountain groups such as the Mountaineering Council of Scotland are objecting.

If you want to object, do so via this link or by immmediately emailing energyconsents@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. If you want a template for a written objection here is what my friend wrote.

'Having seen the amended plans for this proposed 'development', I maintain my objection. 22 turbines,with hub heights of 80 metres is just as bad as the original plan. Moreover,since the company owns the entire sight, should they get planning permission, they will simply apply later to site the remaining turbines; ie development by stealth.

1 As part of an overall energy strategy, windfarms can only contribute a tiny percentage of the overall need; thus the siting of these monstrosities must be balanced against the environment they change - the damage done to views around the Trossachs for miles is now a proven example. Wester Ross should be regarded as a very special case in view of its particular wild, unspoiled and natural beauty, which brings tourism from all over the world. Even the 'Letterewe Wilderness ', said to be the last wilderness in Western Eurpoe,will be affected by the siting of these turbines. Repeat tourist business will be lost, and local people will lose money,possibly their livlihoods. Turbines such as these should be sited off shore.

2 Since local people will lose money,or even their livlihoods,as tourism is the mainstay of the Wester Ross economy - this heavily outweighs any tiny energy benefits;and the company's claims that 22 turbines will bring prosperity is nonsense. All profits will go to shareholders.

3 The goverment has now seen sense and declared that nuclear power is the way forward. Let us save Wester Ross from short term corporate greed ,and leave it unspoiled for our granchildren'.

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[ian mccall]

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