The energy company's visual of how the Allt Duine windfarm might look

The energy company's visual of how the Allt Duine windfarm might look

Opponents of a proposed windfarm in the Highlands welcomed a local council’s rejection of the plans.

Members of the Highland Council’s south planning application committee went against their officer’s recommendation to approve the Allt Duine development, in the Monadhliath Mountains.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland, the John Muir Trust and outdoors elder statesmen Chris Townsend and Cameron McNeish all voiced their opposition to the German company RWE npower renewables’ plans for 31 turbines just outside the Cairngorms national park.

A spokesperson for Highland Council said: “This morning members of the committee were taken on a site visit before reconvening in Inverness to debate the application.

“Following the debate, vice-chairman and local councillor Dave Fallows moved an amendment that the council should object to the application on the grounds of the proximity to the Cairngorms national park, the significant detriment to the landscape of the Monadhliath mountain range and the emerging draft Highland renewable energy strategy.

“Councillor Thomas Prag moved an amendment to support the officer recommendation to approve the application. This was defeated three votes to nine.”

Opponents had pointed out the development was not in line with the draft strategy.

There will now be a public inquiry into the plans.

The John Muir Trust, which campaigns for the conservation of wild land, welcomed the council’s decision. Steven Turnbull, policy officer for the trust, said: “This is a sensible decision by the council which demonstrates an appetite for protecting wild land within the region.

“We’re pleased that the application will now have to face a full public local inquiry, which is vital to fully determine its impacts.

“If approved this 31 turbine development would have a devastating effect on the Monadhliath Mountains, an important area of wild land.”

Journalist and writer Chris Townsend, a key figure in the Save the Monadhliath Mountains group and a former president of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, said: “After months of tireless campaigning and securing large scale public support, we’re pleased that the Highland Council area planning committee has objected to the Allt Duine wind farm proposal.

“A huge amount of Scottish natural heritage is at stake and it is crucial that the proposal is assessed thoroughly. The only way to guarantee a meticulous assessment is for the application to be heard at a full public inquiry undertaken by the Scottish Government.

“Despite today’s formal objection, this is only the beginning of a long process and we will carry on working with our membership to protect this area of unspoilt natural beauty.”

A statement from the MCofS said: “The MCofS believes that local democracy has made its views clear and trusts Scottish ministers will listen to the views of the elected representatives and follow their lead by rejecting the application.”

The planned development, dubbed ‘a windfarm too far’ by Chris Townsend, is seen as a crucial battleground between the competing demands of the Scottish Government’s renewable energy policy and the conservation of some of the nation’s finest landscapes.

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