Scottish Government Ministers have turned down a planning application by WPR Wind Ltd to build a 14 turbine wind farm at Stacain near Inveraray in Mid Argyll.
The decision was taken following a public enquiry prompted by objections lodged by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and RSPB Scotland.
In the Ministers opinion the turbines at the proposed wind farm would present a threat to Golden Eagles established in the area.
As should be obvious from the features published here at ForArgyll, we subscribe energetically to the value of Argyll’s – and Scotland’s – rich wildlife for its own sake and as a significant contributor to the county’s economy.
However, as we said at the time of the public enquiry into this application, it was revealed during evidence by an SNH expert that the Eagle pair most likely to use any part of the windfarm site are 40 years old; and as such any interruption to their breeding capabilities has long been irrelevant. What SNH was calling ‘one of the most productive pair of Eagles in Scotland’ had not in fact given birth to a chick since 1993 – some 15 years ago. This is hardly surprising, given the eagles advanced age.
Ironically, the outcome of the Ministers’ judgment on this case actually imperils wildlife and undermines wildlife protection.
If those who protect our valuable wildlife cannot be more discriminating in the objections they raise and if their evidence is not interrogated by the due authorities to ensure its full validity, what will happen – is already happening – is that the opinion of the most senior bodies in the field will become progressively discredited.
The consequences of this would be powerfully negative in their impact on the very necessary appropriate protection of wildlife.
I tell you what sickened me; I read the BBC report with a comment from Andy Robinson conservation officer for Argyll and Bute saying the decision was welcomed by RSPB Scotland. I was at the council planning meeting when the RSPB officer who was recommending the rejection of planning permission admitted to having never even visited the site and quickly amended his pitch saying he was taking in general terms. At the next meeting the council’s planning officer was asked if the RSPB officer had visited the site yet, to be told they had not. The councillors rightly rejected their submission as not worth the paper it was written on. RSPB did not acquit itself at well in this case, they objected for the sake of objection and to hell with global warming and the part we can play in saving the planet.
This development had a guaranteed connection date as it is sited right next to huge concrete dam and would tap into its grid connection, no waiting time as is the case with many sites receiving planning permission at the moment. They are building windfarms, but they have no way as yet of getting the electricity to our homes. This development did.
I also sat through the entire public hearing in Inveraray. The community council that was objecting just happened to be the only local community council that was not getting any of the proposed community money; the other community councils involved supported the development, a point missing from the news reports.
But the piece de resistance was the SNH bird expert who had been monitoring the eagles in the area with a special permit for decades. When called to the stand and asked a question he was reluctant to answer on the grounds that the wind farm developers had refused to pay him for his Eagle movement data and used another source. It was only after the reporter insisted that he answered the questions of the wind farm council that he opened up and spilled the truth about the Eagles in the area of the Stacain Wind Farm. He stated the Eagle which used the area was properly about 40 years old and was without a mate at that time but the last recorded egg from this Eagle was in 1993. He also gave evidence that there were Eagles in most wind farm areas in Argyll and that no Eagle has ever been killed by a wind farm in the UK. The wind farm developers had also proposed clearing a new feeding ground for the Eagle and providing fallen stock for it to feed upon which had been shown in other development area’s to help with Eagle reproduction. This is what I sat through and this decision is stupid and without substance and totally not based on the facts presented at the inquiry I was part off.
The truth is SNH got personal about this development. Argyll & Bute council did not side with their recommendation because it was not based in fact and poorly argued. This development was sound in every way; the council had to grant planning permission as all the boxes had been ticked. It was a good development in the interest of the local community and Argyll. But SNH clearly smarting had the government call the planning permission in.
SNH have proved yet again the UK is no democracy. The people of Argyll spoke through it elected councillors, yet a government department, not elected, not apparently accountable, overturns the wishes of the local community and its elected councillors with no hard facts or persuasive argument. This is a bad day for the reporter, Jim Mather and the SNP as they bottled it, trust your heads are low in shame for taking the easy root and buckling to your defective advisory department. The quicker the SNP get a majority and get rid of SNH the better. We deserve better as a nation. SNH’s remit to work against the interest of the people of Argyll and Scotland from the getgo is fundamentally flawed and not fit for purpose. Why on earth are our tax pounds being used to support this crap anti Argyll organisation? It is not serving Scotland either and needs to go now!
For the record I am not in any way associated with this wind farm development or employed by any organisation with an interest in this development. I was however the chairman of Inveraray Community Council and represented the interests of my ward throughout the entire planning and hearing process. I have written this reply to the story above for those that were not involved in the hearing process so that they may know that this decision was not based on any valid argument or the wishes of the communities affected but on whether unelected and unaccountable SNH officials got the hump when not listened too, because there is no way a 40 year old Eagle that has not made a baby since 1993 is cutting it in Inveraray tonight. Sleep well after watching the landslides, droughts, famine and crop failures due to global warming caused in part by the UK knowing that you saved a 40 year old beyond breeding age Eagle that would never have flown into the turbine anyway because none ever have. As I said stupid stupid stupid…
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
While an enthusiastic bird watcher and highly appreciative of the attractions of our countryside I am wholly unconvinced by the argument that any wind pylon could be a threat to Golden Eagles or any other healthy bird of prey.
I understand that such birds are equipped with exceptional eyesight and can spot a vole or other small rodent from more than 1,000 feet. It seems to me to be highly unlikely that such a bird would be unaware of a large slowly 20 meter revolving rotor.
Windmills of modern design are no more intrusive in our landscape than pylons, roads, hydro electric installations or, indeed towns and villages. While some would apparently wish the Highlands to be a man-made desert to be visited by Barbour clad visitors in off road vehicles we should remember that presently the most threatened species in the countryside is the human being who wishes to continue to live here. Unless we take positive steps to combat climate change that will no longer be a comfortable option.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
We need to correct a factual inaccuracy in our story above and, to avoid confusion for those revisiting it, we are making a point of flagging up the correct information here. The RSPB has let us know that in its final report to ministers, most notably in relation to the eagles’ breeding success and In paragraph 9.38,it said:
‘The proposed wind farm at Stacain would stand within the home range of a pair of golden eagles. The territory of this pair has been occupied at least since the 1960s, and has been one of the most productive in Scotland over this period, although there is no record of young being raised since about 2003′.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The Government can’t win on this issue at the moment no matter what decision it takes. However I believe that once wind farms become more commonplace there will be a diminishing level of objection but I also believe that off shore wind and particularly tidal generation will overtake onshore wind in the very near future and the contention will lessen. It should be noted that offshore wind power with a capacity to supply one third of Scotland’s peak power needs is presently getting undeway off the coast of Argyll
Like or Dislike:
0 
0