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More wind turbine concerns over Corrieyairack





Fears over new windfarm application
Fears over new windfarm application

Anti-windfarm campaigners are warning that views from a famous military road through the Scottish highlands will be spoiled if a wind farm application gets the go-ahead.

RES Ltd has applied for planning permission for 13 turbines in the rolling moorland below the Corrieyairack Pass, with its historic General Wade road between the Great Glen and upper Strathspey.

The old military road was built under the command of General Wade in 1731, but was used by Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite Army in 1745. Now used by hill walkers for more peaceable purposes, it is a popular route through the Monadhliath mountains.

“It is already scarred by the Beauly-Denny overhead power line, but mountaineers fear even greater damage will be done if the Culachy Wind Farm is permitted, with its 149-metre turbines visible over a much greater area and being more eye-catching because of their movement,” said David Gibson, chief officer of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, which has objected to the planning application.

The council is arguing that the development will not only be unsightly in its own right but will add to the impact of existing and approved wind farms in the area.

Mr Gibson added: “The continuing growth of wind farms in this area is going beyond a tipping point, which – once they are all built – will bring major changes for the worse in tourism and recreation interest.

“This intrudes on a wild land area identified in Scottish planning policy as requiring a high level of protection – and defined wild land in the Monadhliath has already been significantly reduced to accommodate the Scottish Government consent for Stronelairg Wind Farm. This will increase the sense of encirclement of Fort Augustus by wind farms.”


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