A community in the north-east of Scotland is up in arms over plans to erect scores of giant new wind turbines in one of the country’s most scenic places.
Scottish Highland community with Battle of Culloden links warns of risk to locals and scenic landscapes from ‘saturation’ of wind farm turbines
The Cabrach is a remote and sparsely populated area in Moray, on the northern edge of the Cairngorms National Park, with claims to be the birthplace of malt whisky and historical links to the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion and Battle of Culloden.
It is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty, with rolling hills, a river noted for its salmon and wildlife in abundance. But now people living there feel “voiceless and powerless” against companies seeking to build new wind farms in the region, campaigners have said.
They say the number of turbines being proposed is “disproportionate” for the region, which already hosts two wind farms capable of powering more than three times the number of homes in the entire Moray area.
Climate change: Should communities have power to veto new wind farms as net zero deadline looms?
Locals say permitting the construction of the schemes poses a threat to the community, which is already struggling to recover from historical depopulation due to the impacts of war and changes in land use, and will spoil its spectacular landscapes. They want more say for local people when planning applications are being considered.
The Cabrach already has two operating wind farms, Dorenell and Clashindarroch, with 77 turbines in total – able to power 133,000 households.
Two more schemes have been consented – the seven-turbine Garbet Hill development was approved on appeal by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit, despite rejection by Moray Council, and the 14-turbine Clashindarroch II was given the go-ahead by ministers following a public inquiry.
Get a bespoke news round-up when you sign up to The Scotsman Today newsletter
The area has reached “saturation point”, residents say. But more developments are planned – 11 turbines at Craig Watch and 22 at Clashindarroch Extension.
Jonathan Christie is chief executive of the Cabrach Trust, set up to preserve the cultural heritage of the region and safeguard its inhabitants.
After a community buyout of local land and buildings, the charity is working on a £3.5 million regeneration project, centred around a new whisky distillery and heritage centre, which aims to boost the economy, create jobs and attract new visitors to the Cabrach.
“Concerns about onshore wind developments in the area are long-standing,” Mr Christie said.
Public inquiry into ‘mega wind farm’ in Scottish Highlands that would be three times taller than Wallace Monument gets under way in Sutherland
“The arrival of two wind farms in the Cabrach during the first wave of development raised initial trepidation, although the community wholly supports Scotland’s aspiration for a just transition to net zero. However, recently consented plans for a second wave of wind farm developments have caused great concern about cumulative impact.
“Now, with a third wave navigating planning, the community is left feeling voiceless and powerless in the face of what can only be described as an unrelenting pattern of consents at any cost.
“If all developments secure consent, the Cabrach unwittingly becomes the UK’s largest onshore wind park, in the process undermining an ambitious community regeneration strategy, whilst bringing untold harm to an important river catchment and upland ecology.”
Insight: How green is the next frontier of wind power in Scotland?
Patti Nelson, chair of the Cabrach Community Association, stressed support for net zero goals.
“But there has to be balance,” she said. “It really feels like we’ve reached a tipping point, beyond which irreversible damage could be done. As a community we strongly believe there needs to be a pause.”
News Related
-
Asylum seekers travel in an inflatable boat across the English Channel, bound for Dover on the south coast of England (Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP) Up to 40 Conservative MPs are poised to rebel over Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation policy as they question ministers’ commitment to the scheme. A major row is ...
See Details:
Up to 40 Tory MPs ‘set to rebel’ if Sunak’s Rwanda plan doesn’t override ECHR
-
In the saltmarsh fringing where the Ballyboe River dissolves into Trawbreaga Bay, a little egret wears its plumage like a windblown stole. Our car swoops across the 10 arches of Malin bridge and we park along the village green. Malin is almost as far north as you can get on ...
See Details:
Country diary: A tale of three churches
-
Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/EPA Hampton Court is an enduring monument to the power of Henry VIII, a pleasure palace down the Thames from Westminster and the City of London. On Monday it was the scene of power projection of a different kind, as Rishi Sunak pitched for investment from some of ...
See Details:
Sunak woos business elite with royal welcome – but they seek certainty
-
-
Tottenham interested in move to sign “fearless” £20m defender in January Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race to bring an overseas defender to the Premier League in January, according to a fresh report. Postecoglou’s centre-back options The Lilywhites currently have Micky Van De Ven, Ashley Phillips, Cristian Romero and Eric ...
See Details:
Tottenham interested in move to sign “fearless” £20m defender in January
-
A £100m campaign urging households and businesses to use less water will be funded from customers’ bills, Ofwat has said. Bill payers to stump up cost of £100m water usage campaign The regulator’s chief executive David Black told MPs that if the measures worked it would be cheaper than building ...
See Details:
Bill payers to stump up cost of £100m water usage campaign
-
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 – Group B – Canada Training – Olympic Park, Melbourne, Australia – July 24, 2023 Canada’s Christine Sinclair during training REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo (Reuters) – BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, will be renamed “Christine Sinclair ...
See Details:
Soccer-Venue renamed 'Christine Sinclair Place' for Canada soccer great's final game
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Phil Taylor makes his pick for 2024 World Darts Championship winner
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Soccer-Howe aims to boost Newcastle's momentum in PSG clash
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Hamilton heads for hibernation with a word of warning
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Carolina Panthers fire head coach Frank Reich after 1-10 start to the season
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
This exercise is critical for golfers. 4 tips to doing it right
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
One in three households with children 'will struggle to afford Christmas'
-
OTHER NEWS
Kobbie Mainoo made his first start for Man Utd at Everton (Photo: Getty) The Football Association are reportedly confident that Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo will choose to represent England ...
Read more »
Michael Smith will begin the defence of his world title on the opening night (Picture: Getty Images) The 2024 World Darts Championship is less than three weeks away and the ...
Read more »
For the first time a long haul commercial aircraft is flying across the Atlantic using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). A long haul commercial flight is flying to the US ...
Read more »
The King has met business and finance leaders from across the world at a Buckingham Palace reception to mark the conclusion of the UK’s Global Investment Summit. Charles was introduced ...
Read more »
After Ohio State’s 30-24 loss to Michigan Saturday, many college football fans were wondering where Lou Holtz was. In his postgame interview after the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame 17-14 in ...
Read more »
Darius Slay wouldn’t have minded being penalized on controversial no-call No matter which team you were rooting for on Sunday, we can all agree that the officiating job performed by ...
Read more »
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) Quarterback Mac Jones remains committed to finding success with the New England Patriots even though his future is up in the air following ...
Read more »