Moray in danger of being “saturated” by windfarms says MP Ross
Moray MP Douglas Ross has said that some parts of Moray are in danger of being saturated by windfarms. His comments follow reports that the owners of Glenfiddich distillery have lost a legal battle against the development of the Dorenell wind farm. William Grant and Sons objected to the development on the grounds it would spoil the local countryside and reduce visitor numbers.
Douglas said: “I am becoming increasingly concerned about the scale of onshore wind developments in Moray. I believe there is a risk of the upland landscape in the area being saturated by windfarms and I have been struck by the number of local people who have raised the issue with me. This applies to applications for new windfarms, extensions to existing windfarms and the increase in size of existing installations. We have to bear in mind the importance of the tourism industry to Moray and the number of jobs that are reliant on it - and the negative impact the over-development of the landscape may have on this sector.
“It may be difficult to “monetise” the value of an unspoiled landscape but that does not mean its importance should be disregarded.”
Douglas recently visited the owners of Sporting Scotland, a small independent tourism company that attract visitors from all over world to Speyside. Commenting afterwards, he said: “Joerg and Fiona Bondzio have invested years of effort into building up their very successful business. They are deeply alarmed at the impact recent decisions to consent windfarms will have on their ability to attract visitors because of the visual impact of the turbines. No-one comes on holiday to look at an industrialised landscape. Businesses big and small are now being impacted.
“There is a difference between a landscape which has some windfarms and a windfarm landscape. We seem to be moving from one to the other.”
Douglas also expressed concern at the way in which local democracy is being side-lined: “I’m concerned that decisions made by the planning department of Moray Council with regard to windfarms are being routinely overturned on appeal to the Scottish Government,” he said. “There should be local democratic accountability and communities should have greater influence on where and how new windfarms are sited. I fear that the scale and scope of new onshore wind is alienating local communities.
“My view is that Moray has already made a substantial contribution to accommodating onshore wind generation and that we should be extremely cautious before allowing any more of our landscape to be scarred by turbines, pylons and other industrial infrastructure.”