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Fury over bid for '500' Glasgow wind turbines; Campaigners say wind farms will hit tourism
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Windfarms give Scotland a “scarred industrial landscape” and destroy
its precious scenery, campaigners claim.
They insist not one hill top has escaped the attention of energy
firms seeking to turn Scotland into “a huge windfarm for the rest of
the UK”.
And they claim more than 500 turbines at least 300ft tall, are
earmarked for the countryside around Glasgow.
The comments come as yet another planning application has been
submitted for a windfarm to the south of the city.
Spanish firm Gamesa Energia wants to build a “renewable energy park”
near Neilston in East Renfrewshire.
The site, just west of the M77, would have 42 wind turbines around
360ft high and a small hydro-electric scheme capable of powering
47,000 homes.
The site is near what will soon be Europe’s biggest on-shore windfarm
at Whitelee on Eaglesham Moor, with its 140 turbines running along 30
miles of hill tops.
Another is proposed in Clyde Muirshiel Country Park involving 125
turbines, while others are earmarked in the Old Kilpatrick Hills,
Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.
The UK’s biggest windfarm has already opened at Black Law, near
Shotts.
It all adds up, campaigners say, to Glasgow becoming “the centre of
the world’s biggest parttime power station”.
Gillian Bishop, of antiwindfarm campaign group, Views of Scotland,
said: “The government thinks it can change the world’s climate with
windmills and we must pay through the nose for the electricity
companies to build them.
“Soon, more than 500 turbines could be built around Glasgow.
“It would be the centre of the world’s biggest part-time power
station.
“Will this trashing of our landscape affect Scotland’s vital tourism
industry? Almost certainly, but the Executive hasn’t bothered to find
out.”
Jerry Mulders, of Dalmellington in Ayrshire, claims that when the
wind calms there will be blackouts.
He added: “These firms are being offered incentives to build
windfarms and that’s why plans are being lodged all over.”
“It’s an industrialisation of our landscape and has the potential to
seriously damage Scotland’s tourism industry.”
The RSPB also has major concerns about turbines and the threats they
pose to birds.
Although it supports of renewable energy even the Green Party has
concerns over windfarms.
Patrick Harvie, Green Glasgow MSP, said: “Greens back windfarms only
when they are sited in appropriate locations.”
But windfarm schemes do have their backers.
Friends of the Earth Scotland’s chief executive Duncan McLaren
said: “Wind power is a fantastic pollution-free energy source.
“Wind farms do need to sensitively sited, but there remain many
suitable locations in Scotland. ” Gamesa Energy UK claim it chose the
Neilston site because it has good wind speeds and is close to a large
urban areas.
Project manager Karen Farris said: “All applications will be examined
by the local authorities and Scottish Executive.”
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
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