Monadhliath Windfarm Demo

© SMM

Campaign group Save the Monadhliath Mountains (SMM) plans to stage a demonstration outside the Highland Council headquarters in Inverness next week against the controversial Allt Duine wind farm development on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park near Kincraig.

Allt Duine illustration  © SMM
Allt Duine illustration
© SMM

RWE npower's Allt Duine proposal is for 31 wind turbines, each 125 metres high, on an elevated site less than a mile from the boundary of the Cairngorms National Park and prominently visible from major mountains including Braeriach and sgor gaoith. The windfarm would occupy an area of about 507 hectares extending from close to Carn an Fhreiceadain, the popular Corbett above Kingussie, to the hills above Kincraig. See UKH news for more.

Formal objections to the scheme have already been lodged with the Scottish Government by the Cairngorms National Park Authority, the John Muir Trust, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS), Scottish Campaign for National Parks and several local estates. The SMM campaign has attracted support from over 1200 individuals.

SMM campaigners argue that to build a large onshore wind farm in an area of unspoilt wild land, and in an area that the Council itself wishes to protect, would be devastating and that a full public inquiry should be launched by the Scottish Government. Objectors cite the potential impact on habitats, wild landscape and the local economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism.

Outdoor author, photographer and former President of the MCofS Chris Townsend is a spokesman for the SMM campaign and will be leading the demonstration outside the Highland Council headquarters at Glenurquhart Road on Tuesday 20th December.

He says:

'[the demo] marks a critical stage in the Save the Monadhliath Mountains campaign. As the Council meet to discuss the Allt Duine wind farm proposal, we want to send a very clear and visible message to councilors that our supporters strongly believe Allt Duine is a wind farm too far.'

'The proposed Allt Duine wind farm represents one of 11 wind farms that either already exist or are at the planning application stage in the Cairngorms National Park area alone. We're very concerned about the cumulative effect of turbines on the unspoilt landscape of Scotland's largest National Park and the potential damage to the area. We hope that the councillors will listen to the strength of public feeling against this application.'


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