SCOTTISH Natural Heritage (SNH) must “stand up and protect” the land from wind farm developers who “exploit” the planning system, an outdoors body claims. Mountaineering Scotland says SNH, a Scottish Government agency, should play a stronger role in determining whether or not turbines should be built in beauty spots. Currently, the organisation provides advice to planners asked to rubber stamp new developments or grant extensions to existing projects. But Mountaineering Scotland, which represents hillwalkers, says it should instead take up the mantle of the “guardians of natural heritage”. The call comes as the body advocates against two proposed projects in the hills south west of Highland village Garve. Consent was given for developments at Lochluichart in 2008 and Corriemoillie three years later. However, officials allowed far fewer turbines than the renewable energy operators sought, with ministers later expressing that the projects would give “the appearance of one larger scheme”. Now new blueprints have been submitted to add further devices in the same area. While both projects have gone for consent at the same time, neither plan refers to the other in landscape appraisals.
The National 18th May 2019 read more »