I am not happy with the constant use of the term "wilderness" to describe the Scottish Highlands. 99% of the total area is manmade desert caused by Clearance (Ethnic Cleansing if you will), conifer plantation, overgrazing of deer and sheep and heather burning. Thus, most of the Highlands is a badly degraded landscape and the addition of a few wind-turbines will not change that fact. In addition, the constant complaints by individuals from outside the Highlands about the development of any industry which might bring much needed jobs to the area is yet another irritation for those who have lived there for generations and wish to remain for a few generations more. "You can't eat scenery!!!"
Regards,
Alasdair Mor.

The term widerness is often used by organisations such as Scottish National Heritage and the Scottish Mountaineering Club to describe areas such as Knoydart and the Fisherfield and Dundonnel Forest. The truth is there are no aspects of the UK's landscape that can be classed as untouched by the hands of man, however the relatively unspoilt beauty of such places should be preserved for future generations. Dig a little into statistics surrounding wind farm development and you will see that at best the merits of large scale on shore developments are questionable. The specialist nature of the turbines and infrastructure required to support them often means that the skills required to construct and install the turbines are imported from elsewhere meaning that any impact on local economies is at best transient, they will never provide long term employment prospects for significant numbers of people in the locality in which they are installed. Politicians need to stop and think about what really underpins the Scottish economy and I suspect tourism will be pretty near the top of the list. Like it or not the majority of people who travel to Scotland do so to enjoy the varied scenery, whether it be from the seat of a coach or the end of a rope. Excessive development of wind farms will result in tourists travelling elsewhere and taking their cash with them, to the detriment of many who's livelihood depends on such investment.
Large scale wind farm development isn't just an issue in Scotland, other wild areas throughout Britain suffer the same blight.

Ah yes, Alasdair, but a lot of people eat because of the scenery!
A few wind turbines? Come on; get out and about and take a look.
As for jobs - what jobs?
When many parts of the country are already despoiled, to the detriment of many, as Ben says, and when outstandingly beautiful areas of fame and renown across the world are under threat, such as Loch Lomond, it is time to draw a halt.

When these eysores are completed, they provide on average two jobs to maintain the entire windfarm.Big super greedy corporations are behind these projects and what do they care about wild landscape? The Scottish tourist industry is standing back watching their Baby being slowly strangled.These White spindly monsters don`t turn a lot of the time.The owners of these things get paid 6 figure sums to turn them off if the grid is overloaded with energy.Win if they turn, win if they don`t.Easy to see why there is a massive rush to cover the country in them.Humans and especially greedy ones will always crap in their own nest when it comes to money.Your bills will go up as a result of these turbines.Never down.Turbines are made abroad and the profits from them go abroad.Nothing has been learned from the North sea at all then! Massive pylons in a 150 mile line down the spine of the Highlands are on the way to add to the blight of these things.Alex Salmond is the leading promoter of this greed.He should be ashamed to call himself Scottish.

Do you want power for your computer ? For heating ? for hospitals ? Do you want it before fossil fuels push us into energy crisis ?
Do you think it's ok to stop people in remote parts of Scotland having the same opportunity ?
Those of us who love the wild areas ,and enjoy unspoilt scenery ,have to acknowledge that it would be selfish to keep the highlands "pretty"
But ........

It is alreasy known that wind power is one of the least efficient sources of renewable energy it just does not make sensewhen you have to have so many turbines for a small (relatively) output .There is more than enough light in the highlands for conentrated solarfarms ,which could be placed near to town or village centres .
And as for the Beauly-Denny line (pylons) ,Madness. Put it in the ground .

There are solutions ,but i suppose some solutions don't get you votes ,or tax income from higher priced energy .

Jim

The sad thing is, there is room for the turbines, and the scenery which does provide a living for many more people and does not need a subsidy to landowners.

What is missing is some degree of planning, recognition that the less contentious areas should be developed first - at the moment the tactic is stick a few turbines in the middle of a hill range, then expand later claiming that it is already developed.

Meanwhile on windy days, the bird blenders are switched off but can still perform the feat of pumping money from our pockets into other deeper pockets.

READ THIS to see that not only are we to subsidise wind farmss but we are also going to subsidise the gas power stations to stop working when the wind does blow. You couldn't make it up!

Wind turbines and access roads do not "destroy landscapes". In a few years time when they become unprofitable they will be removed for scrap value, leaving little footprint.

If I was in charge of Scotland I would build six nuclear power stations and make a mint flogging leccy to the English.

I live in a rural area and now many of us are considering moving away or even leaving the country. The whole thing about turbines is based on greed, ther is no consideration to the rural population ( who by their small numbers have very few rights as there isnt enough of us to make sizable objection) I know people who are faced with huge turbines being placed 40 metres from their homes, people in the countryside are becoming stressed and depressed over this, South Lanarkshire where I live is under threat form coalmines, quarries and turbines, we already have the biggest wind farm in europe, when does it stop? It is time the Goverment started thinking outside the box and for long term, not only are peoples quality of life being destroyed,South Lanarkshire and the Clyde Valley is becoming completely industrialised but our natural heritage and habitats are being destroyed, give us a break!!!! I am an environmental worker and know that we need to cut our carbon, but even I can see this is not the way.

ecnomic growth: this is the 'devil' that will destroy the enviroment; and that ceepy Alex salmond, needs removing from office, befor he really does wreck scotland. wake up dear scottish cousins and smell the coffe. don't let scotland take the same tragic path as England- get that man out of power - in doing so, it will send a clear message to whomever succeeds that monster. Gary , London