NORTHERN SCOTNew wind farm plan 'terrifying'
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Mr C. Moran (Worth £189m ranked 382 in the Sunday Times Rich List 2007) |
STOP DORENELL WIND FARM.....
........IT'S A DRAM DISGRACE
Location: Unspoiled peat & heather moorland covering approximately 16 sq km of the Glenfiddich & Cabrach hill. Starting approximately 4 miles South of Dufftown.
To OBJECT click here
Do you want to turn 16 Sq Km of pristine Scottish peat blanket bog and heather from this
into this
The plans for a wind farm in the Glenfiddich & Cabrach Hills must be opposed for the following reasons.
- Disturbance to the local road system (More)
1. Wind Farms are inefficient and Moray already has enough wind farms.
As more data becomes available from wind farm projects in other countries it is becoming quite clear that industrial scale wind farms are not the solution to global reduction of CO2 emissions.
Indeed figures from OFGEM show that the two existing wind farms at Pauls Hill and Cairn Uish are only 25% efficient. They have a combined generating capacity of 115 Mega Watts, yet only generated 28.92 Mw in 2006.
Compare this with a conventional power station which will generate around 80% of its capacity as reliable, controllable electricity for the National Grid.
It could also be argued that as Moray already has around 12% of Scotland's existing wind farms, Moray is already "doing its bit".
Also, theoretically, Moray already generates sufficient electricity for its needs from the two farms at Pauls Hill & Cair Uish.
If we assume that there are roughly 42000 households in Moray (35,800 at 2001 Census) and each uses an average of 4700 Kilowatt Hours (kwh) [average domestic consumption used by developers]
37000 x 4700 Kwh = 197400,000 kwh
That is the equal to 197,400 Mwh. This requires generation of 22.54 Mw of electricity - these two existing wind farms generated 28.92 Mw
Therefore allowing MORE wind farms in Moray places a disproportionate burden on this small and relatively unspoilt part of Scotland and will bring no discernable benefits to Moray. At the same time, businesses like tourism, which generates significant income for Moray, will suffer.
2. The Glenfiddich & Cabrach Estate is an ecologically fragile area.
The area covered by the proposed Dorenell wind farm, covers an area of approximately 16 sq km (3500 acres) and is dominated by peat blanket bogs formed since the last ice age.
Also the heather and peat, which has taken 1000's of years to develop is, in itself a living habitat. When this is destroyed, it's gone... for good. It's not just the areas that are being excavated; There are scientific reasons to believe that the peat will be destroyed for a large area around each turbine, greatly increasing the devastation. If you are thinking "rubbish", just have a look to see what happened when developers tried to build a wind farm in this type of environment in Ireland, on a blanket peat bog.
To site any turbines on this area will mean massive excavations for turbine foundations and "borrow" pits (rock is dug on site to supply raw materials for concrete & roads). Also a network of roads will have to be laid - not just simple tracks, but roads capable of carrying lorries that weigh 105 tonnes. If a smallish site like Pauls Hill had to have 13km of roads, what distance will be required here? 30 - 40 km of new roads permanently scarring the landscape?
Another important factor about building on peat is that peat is that peat bogs store up to three times as much carbon as tropical rain forests. To say, therefore that this wind farm will help reduce CO2, ignores the fact that large amounts of CO2 will be released as the peat is destroyed.
Infinergy, the wind farm developer says that at the end of the life of the project they say, "the area at Dorenell can be restored at low financial and environmental costs."
At best this comment is an insult to your intelligence and at worst a downright lie.
- The peat will be dead and probably washed away.
- 70,000 tonnes of concrete simply cannot be removed.
- The roads cannot simply be filled in.
The landscape will be irreversibly scarred.. why?
Just for 25 years of Government subsidies.
This project is about profit not the environment.
Consider this: In 2006 the two wind farms at Pauls Hill and Cair Uish (Rothes) received over £11 million pounds in ROC payments ... (That's over £11 million in one year on top of any revenue received for selling any electricity!)
Now you can understand that the thought of around £20 million per year in ROC payments is a big lure for greedy developers who have no interest in the landscape or the folk that live and work here.
If you still think we are exaggerating the potential impact on the environment, then take a look at the pictorial story of the Cefn Croes Wind Farm - they were faced with ONLY 39 x 328 foot turbines - They lost their fight - here is the result... it's not pretty.
Cefn Croes Wind Farm - A Warning to everyone in Moray.
3. Pollution risk to the River Deveron and River Spey
The River Spey is one of the most Famous and one of the largest rivers in Scotland, having a total catchment of 3008km2. The river network extends to some 36400km2 of which the main stem comprises 157km. From its source, Loch Spey (350m above sea level in the Monadhliath Mountains), the river travels in a northeasterly direction to discharge into the Moray Firth at Tugnet.
In common with many Highland rivers, the waters are low in nutrients and, with a lack of major industrial developments within the catchment, the Spey has remained fairly free of pollution. Indeed the catchment of the Spey is considered to be almost 'pristine'.
The River Deveron is one of the top five British Salmon Rivers. It flows through one of Scotland's least explored areas - from the Cabrach plateau in the foothills of the Grampian Mountains northwards to the county town of Banff on the Moray Firth. Fed by its main tributaries, the Bogie and the Isla, the river forms a thread, linking the market towns of Keith and its famed distilleries, Huntly - home of the Gordon Highlanders and Turriff whose farming heritage gave birth to Scotland's rich legacy of 'Bothy Ballads'.
But for how much longer??
Both of these rivers are fed from water flowing from the proposed site of the Dorenell wind farm. The potential for damage to the River Deveron played a large part in helping stop the Clashindarroch Wind farm.
The River Spey is fed by the Dullan and Fiddich whose waters flow from the Glenfiddich estate to Craigellachie where it joins the Spey.
If the scientists theories are correct then the potential for pollution exists on a massive scale if the Dorenell wind farm gets the go ahead. There is evidence to suggest that the destruction of the peat will result in the decaying and rotting material being washed downhill where it will poison the water it comes into contact with. See here
The Spey fisheries board estimate that every fish caught by an angler is worth £1700 to the local economy. How many jobs might be threatened in 5 - 10 years time if the rivers become poisoned? Is the government prepared to take the very real risk of destroying this fragile local economy that supports real long term jobs?
Whisky
Furthermore could the water supplies for the distilleries of Dufftown be affected? Possibly.
Dufftown has the greatest concentration of distilleries in the whole of Scotland and the whisky distilling industry in Moray supports 100's of jobs in the distilleries and ancillary business.
Distilleries need clean pure water and this water comes from the springs and burns that are fed from the hills to the south of Dufftown. If there is any chance that these water supplies could be affected then even a small risk to Dufftowns distillers is surely a risk too far?
4. Threat to Wildlife
Wildlife Photographs © Laurie CampbellBuilding an industrial scale wind farm on this site will impose serious pressure, disruption and probable risk to the wildlife that depends on wide open wilderness areas for its survival.
The Golden Eagle.
The golden eagle is one of the most magnificent birds of prey in the UK and are predominantly found in the Scottish Highlands.
These large raptors prefer mountainous, often treeless, habitats over which they can soar for hours looking for prey. They mate for life and pairs tend to have territories of up to 56 square km (35 square miles). However when the chicks fledge, they can cover huge distances looking for new territories.
To get an idea of just how big an area eagles cover, follow the progress of Alma, a radio tagged eagle in the Cairngorms.
There are only about 440 pairs of Golden Eagles in Scotland.
To consider building an industrial scale wind farm in the sort of territory that Eagles can populate, and do already visit in their hunt for prey, must surely be regarded a modern form of persecution, increasing the threat to these magnificent creatures.
The Red Deer
This magnificent beast is another icon of Scotland, recognised around the world.
In Britain most red deer are found on the open moorlands of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, although scattered populations are found elsewhere such as north west England, East Anglia, Exmoor and Ireland.
Red Deer play an important role in the ecology and economy of a place like the Glenfiddich & Cabrach Estate. They provide an important source of food (in the form of live prey or carrion) for other animals, including golden eagle, buzzard, badger, pine marten and fox.
Of course Red Deer populations need to be managed and the healthy population of Deer in Moray, supports a number of local jobs and brings in significant revenue from stalkers.
One of the great sights and sounds of the Scottish hills occurs in between the end of September to November. At this time (the "rut") mature stags, perhaps 5 to 6 years of age, leave the bachelor groups to seek out hinds at traditional rutting sites and large herds can readilly be seen near Blackwater.
Building this wind farm will eradicate an annual wildlife spectacle.
The Red Grouse
The Red Grouse is another wild creature that has an iconic association with Scotland and its most famous export... Whisky.
This medium-sized game bird has a plump body, a short tail and a lightly hook-tipped bill. It is reddish-brown, with its legs and feet covered in pale feathers. Grouse breed in the UK in the upland heather moors and are resident all year round, travelling very little in their lives. The population is declining, perhaps linked to diseases and the loss of heather moorland.
While the Grouse is not an endangered species as such, by allowing an industrial wind farm to be built over the moorland it inhabits, it simply increases the pressure on the population until the Grouse too, one day, may become a rare sight.
“The wildlife of today is not ours to dispose of as we please. We have it in trust. We must account for it to those who come after.” King George VI
The Black Grouse
The Black Grouse, on the other hand, has now become locally extinct in many regions. It is one of the most rapidly declining bird species in the UK, with only 5,100 lekking males during the last survey (2005).
The species is on the 'Red' list of species of high conservation concern because of its serious decline.
As such, it is one of the highest priorities for action, and one of 26 bird species for which a UK Biodiversity Action Plan has been produced.
The proposed wind farm is in an area where Black Grouse are known to be and is also just a few miles from traditional lek sites in the Cairngorm park. Leks tend to be traditional to particular sites, with the cocks, who tend not to move far, defending their patches.
However the females will wander further, especially in their first year, dispersing up to 25 km (15.5 miles) to find lekking males and an area of good habitat in which to rear their young.
The black grouse lek is a piece of birdwatching theatre, where males display in order to attract a mate. How can an industrial sized wind farm, situated in such a fragile landscape, possibly help the recovery of such small populations of rare birds?
The Golden Plover
A medium-sized plover with a distinctive gold and black summer plumage. In winter the black in replaced by buff and white. They typically stand upright and run in short bursts. In winter they form large flocks which fly in fairly tight formation with rapid, twinkling wingbeats.
In summer they inhabit upland moorlands in the S Uplands and Highlands of Scotland, the Western and Northern Isles, the Peak District, N Yorkshire, Wales and Devon.
In winter they move to lowland fields, forming large flocks, often in the company of lapwings. They occupy their breeding grounds from May to September, but during this time they are very wary and sensitive to disturbance.
Short Eared Owl
In the UK, short-eared owls are mostly found in the northern half of Britain, but with a few in North Wales and on the east coast of England.
While this owl is not endangered globally, the situation in the UK is that human activities, particularly habitat destruction by landowners, are causing concern. There are estimated to be just over 2,000 breeding pairs of short-eared owls in the UK.
The short eared owl breeds on boggy moorland, upland pasture, young conifer plantations, marshes and winters in open moorland, grassland and marshes. For hunting they prefer open, rough and often sloping ground where they have a good view of their surroundings and where they are able to seek prey while gliding silently.
Building an industrial sized wind farm in such ideal habitat poses a real threat of these owls being killed by turbine blades.
Mountain Hare
The humble mountain hare, with its superbly camouflaged winter coat, is a true resident of the Scottish highlands. Living mainly on heather moorland, their main food source, they can be found at altitudes from 750 metres to over 1000 metres.
Although the Mountain hare is not an endangered species, it forms an important link in the food chain for Eagles, Buzzards, Owls, and foxes.
Life in Scotlands wild hills is a fragile chain..........
..................starting with microscopic insects and tiny fungi, moving up through the insects that pollinate the heather and the small mammals that live in and on the heather plant, up to the top predators like the Golden Eagle.
...........damage a single link in the chain and every part of the chain will be affected.
Wildlife Photographs © Laurie Campbell.
SOSMoray express their grateful thanks to Laurie for allowing the use of these stunning wildlife photographs
5. Damage to the Tourism Industry
Tourism is VITAL to Scotland's economy.
In 2000 Tourism contributed more money to the Scottish Economy than either agriculture, forestry or fishing
In 2005 around 8% of Scotland's workforce was employed in the Tourism sector.
In 2006 the Scottish Executive announced that it wanted to make Scotland one of the foremost tourist destinations in the world and grow tourist revenues by 50% in the 10 years to 2015.
But why do people come to Scotland and particularly Moray?
The answer is for many reasons; Historic places of interest; The Wildlife; The Fishing; The Whisky; The Music but also the obvious, .... Scotland has a "big sky" with many wide open, remote areas of incredible scenery, unspoilt by man, that are simply NOT found in other parts of the country.
In Moray we are incredibly lucky - we have beaches on the coast; one of the 4 top salmon rivers in Scotland; Castles, churches and stately homes; small towns & villages with character.... and the wide open areas of wilderness leading into the Cairngorms.
As a tourist destination, Moray has few equals. Yet, already the skyline is being blighted by wind farms. The one planned at Dorenell will dominate what is a pristine area of landscape and will be visible from the Cairngorms and all the surrounding hills.
To allow a wind farm, with giant turbines, to be situated in one of the most scenic areas of Moray, is surely totally contradictory to the aim of attracting visitors to Scotland?
If we fail to stop the Dorenell project and the other 3 planned wind farms, everyone who lives in Moray will regret it....
..... and our tourist visitors???
What will they do if they see Scotland's incredible scenery ruined for ever....
They won't come back Alex..!
We need your help to Lobby
- Local councillors
- MSP's
Click HERE to see how you can help - one letter or e-mail is all it takes to add make your voice heard.
6 Access Road
According to Infinergy (Developers), the planned route for trucking in the turbine parts will be via the A920 from Huntley, then turning left onto the A941 towards Cabrach.
Although an "A" road, the A941 from Dufftown to Rhynie is more like a "B" road and although used by some agricultural and forestry traffic from time to time, it is not particularly suitable for Heavy Goods Vehicles being narrow, with some tight bends and steep slopes on the edge of the road.
It's not just the mega-long artic's bringing in the turbine parts that will cause problems for local folk and the farmers.
The sheer numbers of heavy construction traffic that will need to use this road will make it a nightmare for folk who live along it plus also possibly Dufftown, Cabrach & Rhynie, if construction traffic is allowed to be routed through these villages.
The Planning application is due to be considered by The Moray Council in November who decide whether or not to object.
If They object there will be a public enquiry
A public enquiry is the ONLY chance of getting this wind farm stopped
Your voice is VITAL - Please object now!