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Government to decide on wind turbine row
Credit: STV, stv.tv 16 February 2012 ~~
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A dispute over building wind turbines within sight of the famous Callanish Stones will be decided by the Scottish Government.
Historic Scotland opposes a crofter’s bid to build two modern renewable energy generators on the island of Great Bernera, nearly five miles away.
The government agency insists they would spoil the “spiritual” landscape used by the ancients for prehistoric religious ceremonies. There are also separate objections over the potential effect on golden eagles and otters.
It says the turbines would spoil the panoramic views from the Callanish Stones, which are considered by many to have equal importance with Stonehenge.
Historic Scotland says they would have a “significant adverse impact on Calanais’ setting which contributes considerably to its cultural significance.”
It adds that “the Calanais’ setting, extending out to the skyline, is central to its understanding, appreciation and enjoyment, and contributes to its cultural, aesthetic and spiritual values. It forms the centre of a wide prehistoric ritual landscape, incorporating a number of related and often intervisible stone circles, standing stones and natural features”.
A council report highlighted the economic benefit to the Western Isles as jobs would be created in the construction phases in addition to extra indirect spending in local shops. Local electrical technicians would be needed for ongoing maintenance and annual payments to the community would be invested in improving local amenities.
The planning row was to be put on hold but Western Isles Council has now vetoed its own planning councillors, who wanted more environmental information.
Point councillor Donald John Macsween won overwhelmingly support for his motion to approve the scheme, at the full council on Wednesday night.
Mr Macsween said: “This is a very small development, almost insignificant. We all have a very good idea of the environment where this development will be.”
He believed birds’ flying habits around the area would not “have changed since the original study and there will be no significant changes in the future.”
The applicant, Norman Macdonald, said: “The irony is that it is the dead in Callanish that are against this scheme. There has been not one objection from the living in Callanish.”
He added: “Scottish Natural Heritage (which was concerned about eagles) is the worst landlord we ever had in the Highlands – of they get their way there’ll be nothing left here but eagles, seals and rats.
“Do we really want other World Heritage sites like St Kilda which is devoid of people?”
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