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Wind farm 'would destroy landmark view'



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BUILDING more than 50 wind turbines in a beauty spot would threaten tourism by destroying the view from a Hebridean landmark, according to campaigners.
A public inquiry opened yesterday into plans for 53 turbines on the Eisgein Estate on Lewis.

Campaigners against the wind-farm proposal, by Beinn Mhor Power, say the turbines would be visible from the ancient Callanish Stones 12 miles away, which they describe as Scotland's Stonehenge.

More than 20,000 people travelled to Callanish last year.

"It is ludicrous that the government would even entertain the idea of marching turbines across such a world-class landscape," said Helen McDade, the head of policy for environmental charity the John Muir Trust.

Thousands of people have lodged protests against the development.

The public inquiry, held in Stornoway, is expected to last about a week.







The full article contains 142 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

GlenB,

Skye 14/05/2008 00:54:28
At a conservative guesstimate the average spend per head of the 20,000 visitors to the local economy may be £100 giving a total of £2,000,000 per annum.

The community benefit from the windfarm is, from what I have seen, is about £175,000 per annum.

Is this enough to offset any potential losses?
2

Boy Wonder,

14/05/2008 08:17:13
Let's face it ... they wouldn't have them all over England, will they??

Say NO to windfarms in Scotland!
3

Koffindodger,

Edinburgh 14/05/2008 10:53:04
1 GlenB,Skye

I think the average spend was over double that in 2006 and tourism numbers where 6 or 7 times that for the hebrides as a whole.

Still who's to say seeing turbines in the distance from an attraction will have any effect on tourism.

We have all been to attractions on holiday when there has been something unexpected in the distance (or even nearby) which doesn't stop us going.

I think they look almost beautiful from a distance.

What if they put them in the sea, they will possibly still be visible.
4

I should be studying,

Edinburgh 14/05/2008 11:35:46
#2 Boy Wonder:

Let's face it.. you're wrong. England has windfarms and has plans for more. If I lived in the area concerned then I too might object to the windfarm, for similar reasons given in the article. However, your comment is irrelevant concerning the subject. Maybe you think the electricity generated from the proposed windfarm on Lewis would go to homes and businesses in England? Hmmm. I don't think so. Probably Glasgow. But if that's your only objection to windfarms generally, then maybe you should learn to keep it to yourself.
5

Dougie, Edinburgh,

14/05/2008 11:46:36
#2
We need to get electricity from somewhere and despite Britain being heavily overpopulated, the gov. wants to increase our population by another ten million. If you oppose wind farms in Scotland, what are the alternatives? Nuclear power or buring more coal. Or waiting until we have a critical problem like South Africa did, suffer brownouts and panic people into even dirtier solutions like burning diesel in small generators.

 

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