Monday, 22nd August 2011
Euro MP joins opposition to desecration of Dava Moor
Conservative MEP for Scotland, Struan Stevenson, has lent his whole-hearted support to a campaign to block the “desecration” one of Scotland’s most beautiful scenic areas with clusters of huge wind turbines.
Mr Stevenson has written to the Scottish Government, urging it to swiftly reject planned wind farms at Tom Na Clach and Glenkirk on the remote Dava Moor at the northern edge of the Cairngorms National Park, near Grantown on Spey.
A public inquiry on the controversial developments is set to go ahead from 22-24 August.
Speaking ahead of the public inquiry, Stewart Stevenson MEP said:
“These monstrous plans for the desecration of the heart-stoppingly beautiful and much-loved Dava Moor must not go ahead. If the turbines are constructed, the ensuing damage to the landscape and visual impact will irrevocably damage of one of our most hallowed remote Scottish wilderness areas.
“Much of Dava Moor lies within an Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV), as designated by Highland Council. The Council has also designated it – with good reason – as an area carrying a ‘Presumption against development’ of wind farms. It deserves better protection.”
Mr Stevenson continued:
“The area is part of our Scotland’s landscape and cultural heritage, a setting for historic Lochindorb Castle, and a highlight of the A939 tourist route between Inverness and Aberdeen.
“What’s more, most of the area is covered by deep blanket bog with peat up to four metres deep, much of which is over 2000 years old. Blanket boglands like this are listed under EU environmental guidance as being a globally rare resource, with strong recommendations that their overall area should not to be diminished in size or quality. Also, the supposed low carbon impact of these turbines will be overshadowed by the huge amount of CO2 released by the digging-up of the Dava Moor peatland.”
Mr Stevenson concluded:
“The public inquiry must decide against approving these plans or we all stand to lose one of Scotland’s scenic, historical and environmental gems to senseless development of the most unsustainable kind.”
ENDS
Notes:
1. Struan Stevenson is a Conservative Euro MP for Scotland. He is a member of the European Parliament's Environment Committee and President of the Climate Change, Biodiversity & Sustainable Development Intergroup of more than 200 MEPs.
2. Tom Na Clach Wind Farm is a proposed development by Infinergy of 17 turbines, each measuring 110m in height. Highland Council rejected Infinergy’s original application on 23 August 2010.
3. Eurus Energy’s application to build 31 turbines on the hills of Dava Moor was applied for a planning consent to build a 31 turbine development on the hills of Dava Moor was also rejected by Highland Council on 23 August.
4. For more information, please contact: Peter Smyth: E: peter@indigopr.com; Tel: 0131 554 1146; Mob: 07766 166 637
