Wednesday, 15th February 2012
National Trust for Scotland called to clarify stance on wind turbines
Scottish Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson has written to Sir Kenneth Calman, Chairman of the National Trust for Scotland to seek clarity on the conservation and heritage charity’s stance on wind turbines and wind farms.
The letter comes in the wake of public comments this week from Sir Simon Jenkins, Chair of the National Trust in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who stated that wind energy is the 'least efficient' form of green power and that turbines are a 'public menace'.
Commenting from Strasbourg, Struan Stevenson said:
“Sir Simon Jenkins is absolutely right to say that wind farms simply do not work. They produce a mere trickle of electricity at a vast cost to the consumer and they do not reduce carbon emissions.
“Moreover, they are a threat to the cultural and natural heritage that the National Trust strives to protect. In Scotland, we face the prospect of windfarms located beside some of the jewels in the crown of our priceless heritage, including the shores of Loch Lomond and Loch Ness, behind Culzean Castle and next to the Cairngorms National Park. With the Scottish Government’s recently published plans to surround our coastline in turbines, the National Trust for Scotland may find its properties and protected landscapes besieged by wind farm developers.
“The National Trust for Scotland's core activity is the conservation and management of our natural and cultural heritage on behalf of its thousands of paying members and society as a whole. I look forward to hearing what its leaders and membership have to say on the current rapid expansion of wind turbines.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
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. Sir Simon Jenkins made his comments in an interview with the Daily Telegraph on Monday 12 February http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/windpower/9077468/National-Trust-comes-out-against-public-menace-of-wind-farms.html
3. A copy of Struan’s letter to Sir Kenneth Calman, Chair of the National Trust for Scotland can be seen here: http://www.struanstevenson.com/assets/uploads/Letter%20to%20Sir%20Kenneth%20Calman(1).jpg
4. For further information, please contact:
Peter Smyth
Indigo
peter@indigopr.com
Tel: 0131 554 1146
Mob: 07766 166 637
Wednesday 15 February 2012
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