A conservation group has urged politicians to act to protect the country's scenic Highlands from further wind-farm developments.
The Friends of the Great Glen group says the Great Glen and Loch Ness area is under threat from a "multitude" of planning applications which could see the creation of hundreds of turbines and industrial infrastructure.
The group, which has submitted a petition on the issue to the Scottish Parliament, argues that current planning processes do not afford the tourist destination with enough protection.
Figures from Highland Council and Scottish National Heritage show that 500 turbines have been consented to or are in the planning stage within a 22-mile radius of Loch Ness.
James Treasurer, of Friends of the Great Glen, told Holyrood's Public Petitions Committee: "Our concern is the multitude of wind-farm development that is being planned and in the pipeline for the Great Glen area and the Loch Ness area.
"The distressing thing is not even just the wind turbines - because these are at remote locations it is going to involve hundreds of miles of pylons to connect these to the national grid, hundreds of miles of access roads, building of sub-stations, so in fact it is going to be a big industrial complex for about 30 miles on each side of the Great Glen.
"We are extremely concerned about it and as to whether the planning protections adequately protect this area. Our evidence is that, with the scale of development, it doesn't."
He added: "If the Scottish Government, together with Highland Council, doesn't act in the next year to two years it will be too late to save the Great Glen as we know it."
Friends of the Great Glen wants MSPs to urge the Scottish Government to take steps to designate Loch Ness and the Great Glen as a National Scenic Area and to make an application for the area to be afforded World Heritage protection.
Appropriate steps to discourage further wind-turbine developments and support the restoration of sites damaged by wind turbines should also be taken, the group has said.
The committee has agreed to write to Highland Council, Scottish National Heritage, Scottish Renewables, the John Muir Trust and the Scottish Government.
MSPs heard that hundreds of turbines are proposed within a 22-mile radius of the loch
Campaigners have told MSPs that time is running out "to save" Loch Ness and the Great Glen from wind farms.
Holyrood's petitions committee heard that 500 turbines have been consented to, or are in the planning stage, within a 22-mile radius of the loch.
James Treasurer, of Friends of the Great Glen group, described the scale of development as "distressing".
MSPs agreed to seek evidence from Highland Council, Scottish Renewables and the government on the situation.
Friends of the Great Glen has submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament.
It argues that current planning processes do not afford the area with enough protection.
The committee heard that the figure of 500 turbines was drawn from data collected by Highland Council and Scottish Natural Heritage.
'Extremely concerned'
Mr Treasurer told MSPs: "Our concern is the multitude of wind-farm developments that is being planned and in the pipeline for the Great Glen area and the Loch Ness area."
Infrastructure needed to support wind farms widened their impact, the committee heard.
Mr Treasurer said: "The distressing thing is not even just the wind turbines - because these are at remote locations it is going to involve hundreds of miles of pylons to connect these to the national grid, hundreds of miles of access roads, building of sub-stations. So in fact it is going to be a big industrial complex for about 30 miles on each side of the Great Glen.
"We are extremely concerned about it and as to whether the planning protections adequately protect this area."
He added: "If the Scottish government, together with Highland Council, doesn't act in the next year to two years it will be too late to save the Great Glen as we know it."
Friends of the Great Glen wants MSPs to urge the Scottish government to take steps to designate Loch Ness and the Great Glen as a National Scenic Area and to make an application for the area to be afforded World Heritage protection.
The committee has agreed to write to Highland Council, Scottish National Heritage, Scottish Renewables, the John Muir Trust and the government.
Campaigners have urged politicians take action to protect the Highlands from wind farms.
Friends of the Great Glen claim hundreds of turbines could be built around Loch Ness and the Great Glen.
The group says current planning processes do not afford the tourist destination with enough protection.
Figures from Highland Council and Scottish National Heritage show that 500 turbines have been approved or are in planning within 22-miles of Loch Ness.
In a petition Holyrood, Friends of the Great Glen’s James Treasurer said: “The distressing thing is not even just the wind turbines - because these are at remote locations it is going to involve hundreds of miles of pylons to connect these to the national grid, hundreds of miles of access roads, building of sub-stations, so in fact it is going to be a big industrial complex for about 30 miles on each side of the Great Glen.
"We are extremely concerned about it and as to whether the planning protections adequately protect this area. Our evidence is that, with the scale of development, it doesn't."
He added: "If the Scottish Government, together with Highland Council, doesn't act in the next year to two years it will be too late to save the Great Glen as we know it."
Friends of the Great Glen wants MSPs to urge the Scottish Government to take steps to designate Loch Ness and the Great Glen as a National Scenic Area and to make an application for the region to be afforded World Heritage protection.
Appropriate steps to discourage further wind-turbine developments and support the restoration of sites damaged by wind turbines should also be taken, the group has said.
The committee has agreed to write to Highland Council, Scottish National Heritage, Scottish Renewables, the John Muir Trust and the Scottish Government.
A conservation group has urged politicians to act to protect the country’s scenic Highlands from further wind-farm developments.
The Friends of the Great Glen group says the Great Glen and Loch Ness area is under threat from a “multitude” of planning applications which could see the creation of hundreds of turbines and industrial infrastructure.
The group, which has submitted a petition on the issue to the Scottish Parliament, argues that current planning processes do not afford the tourist destination with enough protection.
Figures from Highland Council and Scottish National Heritage show that 500 turbines have been consented to or are in the planning stage within a 22-mile radius of Loch Ness.
James Treasurer, of Friends of the Great Glen, told Holyrood’s Public Petitions Committee: “Our concern is the multitude of wind-farm development that is being planned and in the pipeline for the Great Glen area and the Loch Ness area.
“The distressing thing is not even just the wind turbines – because these are at remote locations it is going to involve hundreds of miles of pylons to connect these to the national grid, hundreds of miles of access roads, building of sub-stations, so in fact it is going to be a big industrial complex for about 30 miles on each side of the Great Glen.
“We are extremely concerned about it and as to whether the planning protections adequately protect this area. Our evidence is that, with the scale of development, it doesn’t.”
He added: “If the Scottish Government, together with Highland Council, doesn’t act in the next year to two years it will be too late to save the Great Glen as we know it.”
Friends of the Great Glen wants MSPs to urge the Scottish Government to take steps to designate Loch Ness and the Great Glen as a National Scenic Area and to make an application for the area to be afforded World Heritage protection.
Appropriate steps to discourage further wind-turbine developments and support the restoration of sites damaged by wind turbines should also be taken, the group has said.
The committee has agreed to write to Highland Council, Scottish National Heritage, Scottish Renewables, the John Muir Trust and the Scottish Government.
A conservation group has urged politicians to act to protect the country's scenic Highlands from further wind-farm developments.
The Friends of the Great Glen group says the Great Glen and Loch Ness area is under threat from a "multitude" of planning applications which could see the creation of hundreds of turbines and industrial infrastructure.
A total of 500 wind turbines have been consented to or are in the planning stage within a 22-mile radius of Loch Ness
The group, which has submitted a petition on the issue to the Scottish Parliament, argues that current planning processes do not afford the tourist destination with enough protection.
Figures from Highland Council and Scottish National Heritage show that 500 turbines have been consented to or are in the planning stage within a 22- mile radius of Loch Ness.
tuesday 26 may
James Treasurer, of Friends of the Great Glen, told Holyrood's Public Petitions Committee: " Our concern is the multitude of wind-farm development that is being planned and in the pipeline for the Great Glen area and the Loch Ness area.
"The distressing thing is not even just the wind turbines - because these are at remote locations it is going to involve hundreds of miles of pylons to connect these to the national grid, hundreds of miles of access roads, building of sub-stations, so in fact it is going to be a big industrial complex for about 30 miles on each side of the Great Glen.
"We are extremely concerned about it and as to whether the planning protections adequately protect this area. Our evidence is that, with the scale of development, it doesn't."
He added: "If the Scottish Government, together with Highland Council, doesn't act in the next year to two years it will be too late to save the Great Glen as we know it."
Friends of the Great Glen wants MSPs to urge the Scottish Government to take steps to designate Loch Ness and the Great Glen as a National Scenic Area and to make an application for the area to be afforded World Heritage protection.
Appropriate steps to discourage further wind-turbine developments and support the restoration of sites damaged by wind turbines should also be taken, the group has said.
The committee has agreed to write to Highland Council, Scottish National Heritage, Scottish Renewables, the John Muir Trust and the Scottish Government.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2015, All Rights Reserved.
Jim Treasurer, spokesman for Save Loch Ness campaign, told Radio Scotland: "It is a spectacular landscape and certainly the most famous loch in the world, and the Great Glen is probably the most famous valley in Europe.
"We are quite concerned that the future plans for the area are to extend 30 miles of wind farms on both sides of the Great Glen adjacent to Loch Ness.
"People come here to see the outstanding natural beauty of the area and with 30 miles of wind farm developments including hundreds of miles of access tracks, the environment will become very artificial and there is no doubt it will impact the tourism economy of the Highlands."
The group's petition calls on the Scottish government to:
Protect Loch Ness and the Great Glen by designating it a national scenic area
To recommend that a priority application is made to UNESCO for designation of Loch Ness and the Great Glen as a World Heritage Site
To take appropriate steps to discourage further wind turbine developments in the area and support the restoration of all sites therein damaged by wind turbines.
Mr Treasurer said the Save Loch Ness group is not against wind farms or renewable energy, but are concerned at the location of the proposed turbines.
In response to the campaign, a spokesperson for the Scottish government said: "Our policy on onshore wind farms aims to strike a careful balance between utilising Scotland's significant renewable energy resources whilst protecting our finest scenic landscapes and natural heritage.
"As campaigners are aware, Scottish Planning Policy makes clear that wind farms are not appropriate in National Parks or National Scenic Areas - which cover a fifth of Scotland - and also strengthens protection for wild land areas - covering a further tenth of the country.
"However, where it is proposed that wind farms should be inappropriately located outside of these protected areas and don't meet strict planning guidelines on matters such as landscape impact, cumulative impact and impact on residential amenity, they will also be rejected.
"The Scottish planning process strongly promotes public engagement which enables community organisations to make representations on development proposals. This allows any stakeholder or interested parties to make their views known, which are taken into account in the assessment of a project."
Salmond asked to stop huge wind farm above Loch Ness
ALEX Salmond has been urged to “show real leadership” by rejecting a large wind farm that campaigners say threatens to submerge an area of wild land under a “forest of steel turbines the height of the Forth Bridge”.
Alex Salmond urged to stop 'damaging' wind farm plan
The 67-turbine Stronelairg project in the Monadhliath mountains above Loch Ness will be the biggest onshore wind farm in the Highlands if it goes ahead.
It has won the backing of councillors, and the final decision will now go to ministers in what mountaineering and wild land groups believe is an important test case for the Scottish Government.
Its approval by Highland councillors, despite opposition from groups including Scottish Natural Heritage, the environment agency, follows recent suggestions that the First Minister is ready to perform an about turn on renewable energy by identifying areas of wild land that should be free of wind farms.
SNH is drawing up maps that could offer a level of protection to around 28 per cent of Scotland.
But campaigners have reacted sceptically to the claim that Mr Salmond is ready to row back on his pro-renewables rhetoric, and say they would regard approval of the Stronelairg project, or the equally controversial Allt Duine scheme at Kincraig on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park, as proof that nothing has changed.
Le Loch Ness et son monstre bientôt perturbés par des éoliennes?
VIDÉO - Une association écossaise se mobilise pour éviter l’installation de 500 éoliennes à proximité du célèbre lac. Ses armes Une pétition et une vidéo virale.
Il y a quelques jours, des associations de défense des animaux s’étaient mobilisées pour protéger des hérissons avant le démarrage d’un chantier. Cette fois-ci une association écossaise souhaite préserver la tranquilllité d’une créature bien plus imposante (vraisemblablement): le monstre du Loch Ness. Plus sérieusement, le groupe Save Loch Ness craint que l’installation de 500 éoliennes sur une cinquantaine de kilomètres de ce site ne viennent perturber l’un des lieux touristiques les plus célèbres du pays.
L’association qui revendique à peine une centaine de membres a réussi à faire parler d’elle en diffusant une vidéo (voir ci-dessous) qui préfigure ce que pourrait devenir ce site paisible. Sa pétition adressée au parlement écossais a déjà récolté plus de 2000 signatures. Même si aucune implantation n’a été décidée officiellement, elle croit savoir que les éoliennes seraient installées sur 30 miles (48 km) de part et d’autre du Great Glen, un ensemble de vallée incluant le Loch Ness.
« L’environnement deviendra très artificiel et il n’y a aucun doute que cela impactera l’économie touristique des Highlands » Jim Treasurer, porte-parole de Save Loch Ness
«Les gens viennent là pour voir l’exceptionnelle beauté naturelle de la région et avec 30 miles d’éoliennes incluant des centaines de kilomètres de sentiers d’accès, l’environnement deviendra très artificiel et il n’y a aucun doute que cela impactera l’économie touristique des Highlands», souligne Jim Treasurer, porte-parole de Save Loch Ness. Son association réclame la protection du lieu et son classement au patrimoine mondial de l’humanité par l’Unesco. L’association précise qu’elle n’est pas opposée à l’existence des éoliennes mais rejette les choix de localisation.
Interrogé par la BBC, un porte-parole du gouvernement écossais précise: «Ces militants le savent, la politique de planification écossaise précise clairement que les éoliennes ne sont pas adaptées aux parcs nationaux et aux paysages d’intérêt national (qui couvrent 20% du pays) et renforce la protection des espaces restés sauvages (couvrant encore 10 autres % du pays)». Dossier à suivre.
From Susan Crosthwaite www.windsofjustice.org.uk
UK spokeswoman for EPAW
susanmcoss@gmail.com
contact: Susan +44(0)7436810013
Dear Jean-Louis,
Please can you put this on EPAW and send to all contacts. This is the work of Lyndsey Ward and Malcolm Kirk:
"Okay everyone I want this to go viral. It has taken blood, sweat and tears and I want to sincerely thank Malcolm Kirk for putting up with me.
Please share and ask people to sign the petition to save Loch Ness. Lyndsey”
Comment of JL Butré EPAW President
Wind farms imperil wildlife and destroy natural habitats which have hitherto escaped the destructive powers of earth-moving equipment, concreting operations and other highly invasive human activities.
The negative effects of industrial wind turbines on people, landscapes, tourism, property values, wildlife, and the economy are widely understood and accepted. They are significantly altering Europe's natural and cultural heritage by their harmful effect on landscapes .
In France Mont Saint Michel have been saved from wind turbine's desaster by UNESCO after years of battle
Now Vezelay, Saint Savin,La Saline Royale, and all the most beautifull landscapes of France are under attack by the same promoters.
It is th same all over Europe !
Please stop ruining beautiful lands . Please save Loch Ness
