Campaign launched to stop Kincraig wind farm plans

A growing campaign backed by renowned mountaineer, writer and broadcaster Cameron McNeish has issued a call-to-arms to stop the go-ahead of a proposed wind farm by Kincraig.

The planned Allt Duine wind farm is one of 11 wind farms that either already exists or are at the planning application stage for the northern arc of the Cairngorms National Park.

Campaigners have said they are increasingly concerned about the cumulative effect of turbines on the unspoiled landscape of Scotland’s largest national park.

They are urging locals to get behind the ‘Save the Monadhliath Mountains’ (SMM) bid.

Formal objections to plans by RWE npower renewables Ltd for the Allt Duine, located in the Monadhliath Mountains, have already been made.

The development around five kilometres as the crow flies from Kincraig, has led to objections by the Cairngorms National Park Authority, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the John Muir Trust and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland.

Several estates close to the proposed site, Pitmain Estate, Glenfeshie Estate and Coignafearn Estate, have also submitted their objections.

A spokesperson for the SMM said: "While the campaign and its supporters are not against renewable energy in principle, we feel that the 31 turbines, the majority of which are 125 metres in height, which is the equivalent to a stack of 28 double-decker buses, are completely inappropriate for an area of outstanding natural beauty and would have a critical and irrevocable impact on the landscape, wildlife and ornithology of the area.

"Since the SMM website went live just over a week ago, the campaign is already gathering momentum."

Over 450 people have signed the online petition opposing the proposals.

Cameron McNeish and Chris Townsend, former president of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and writer/photographer of TGO (The Great Outdoors) magazine, are amongst those backing the campaign.

Mr McNeish said:"This campaign is not against renewables or onshore wind farms per se.

"What we vehemently object to is that if this proposal goes ahead, it will adversely affect the wildness and wildlife in the Monadhliath Mountains, threatening the unique character and natural beauty of this area – once that’s gone, it’s gone forever.

"I would urge supporters to sign our petition and in doing so send a clear message to the planners - that the proposal for Allt Duine is a wind farm too far."

The planning application is likely to be considered by the Highland Council’s Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey planning application committee on November 8.

The SMM spokesperson said: "This gives the SMM campaign and the local community less than eight weeks to gather support to reject this proposal outright and demand a public inquiry be launched by the Scottish Government.

"With the site boundary of the wind farm just 400 metres from the national park, the permanent access and cabling route would begin within the park itself, as too would the site reception and temporary construction compound.

"Access tracks leading to the wind farm would also cross a number of important habitats on the Scottish biodiversity list, such as blanket bog, wet heath, dry heath and lichen-rich heaths. A variety of birds of prey have also been tracked in the vicinity of the proposed site."

The group claims that once constructed, the wind turbines would be visible from up to 35km away.

The spokesperson said:"They would also be seen from the CairnGorm Mountain Railway and parts of the Rothiemurchus Estate, both of which are listed as two of the top ten visitor attractions in the Highlands, potentially having a significant impact on tourism in the area, which is vital to the local economy.

For more information visit www.savemonadhliathmountains.com.

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