Wind Blowing in a New Direction?

For those of us who hoped a few years ago that Scotland could become an exemplar of carbon reduction and that our best landscapes be protected at the same time, recent times have been depressing. While some compromise was always going to be necessary, the march of industrial scale wind farms to the edge of, and in some cases into, areas of prime wild land has been changing Scotland's finest panoramas. Until now, the Scottish Government ignored calls for a national strategic approach and left the process of deciding where wind farms might be sited to the ordinary planning process. However there are now signs that this may be changing.

More protection for the finest landscapes?

Following persistent criticisms, along with concerns expressed by high profile figures such as Cameron McNeish and Hamish McInnes, the Scottish Government does appear to accept that there are areas where wind farms should not be built. The Government recently put Scotland's Third National Planning Framework Main Issues Report and Draft Framework and The Scottish Policy Planning Consultation Draft out to public consultation. NEMT's response to these two documents is outlined elsewhere in this edition of Mountain Views. What is of interest here are the Government's proposals in these documents to zone wild land into two bands:

• Group 1 areas are National Parks and National Scenic Areas. Wind farms will not be acceptable in these areas.
• Group 2 areas include a range of protected sites, Scottish Natural Heritage's core areas of wild land and places where the cumulative effect of existing wind farms would suggest that further developments would have a negative impact. In these areas, wind farms will only be acceptable if the detriments to the characteristics for which the areas are noted can be ameliorated.

There is, however, a significant caveat in that it is stated that local authorities should not impose additional zones around areas considered unsuitable for wind farms.

Does this change things? It brings some clarity but only time will tell if it alters the situation much. The Cairngorms National Park Authority had already set its face against significant wind developments and clearly wind farms were never going to be built in some areas of outstanding beauty. The protection afforded to group 2 zones is limited and NEMT has argued the case that SNH's core areas of wild land should be included in Group 1. In addition, the caveat that buffer zones should not be created is troubling. The Cairngorms National Park could still end up being ringed by industrial scale developments visible from most parts of the plateau. Nevertheless, the government has, at last, recognised that there are legitimate concerns, and this is a start.

Meanwhile back on the ground

Problematic proposals are coming thick and fast and the following can only give a flavour of some of what is happening:

• To start with the good news, the developer is not appealing Highland Council's decision to turn down proposals for the Clach Liath wind farm on one of the shoulders of Ben Wyvis. NEMT objected to this proposal which would, for the first time, have seen such a development on a Munro.
• Despite three failed attempts to get permission to erect turbines on the slopes of Pressendye near Cushnie, at the time of writing the developer has submitted a fourth application. As this would be visually detrimental to the gateways to Deeside and Donside and is an area where NEMT members go for shorter walks, we have again submitted an objection.
• Nathro Hill is between the lower reaches of Glen Clova and Glen Lethnot. Macritch Hill is adjacent to Backwater reservoir east of Glen Prosen. Proposals for both these locations provide a good example of the dilemmas developments can present. Both are on the edge of prime wild land and they are near the boundary of the National Park; if they go ahead, they may well reduce the remote feel of the Clova hills. Both are in the early planning stages. Should NEMT object?
• Allt Duine (Monadhliath). A decision by the Government is awaited on this proposal for a large development right on the very boundary of the National Park. A very strong campaign has been mounted against this which NEMT has supported.
• The John Muir Trust has lodged a petition seeking judicial review of Highland Council's decision to raise no objections to the Stronelairg wind farm proposal in the Monadhliath. This is an enormous development not far north west of Geal Charn.
• Bhlaraidh wind farm is another very large proposed development. It is just north west of Invermoriston.
• The Scottish Government has refused planning consent for proposal for wind farms at Glenkirk, north east of Tomatin, and Druim Ba, north of Drumnadrochit.

Scottish Natural Heritage's core areas of wild land map and their latest map showing existing and proposed wind farms

George Allan

Please let the webmaster know if there are problems with viewing these pages or with the links they contain.