Halt new windfarms in Caithness until their impact is assessed - Thurso

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 9th Jun 2010

Local MP John Thurso has called for an end to planning permission for new windfarms in Caithness until the impact of existing farms on the area can be properly assessed.

John argues that once existing sites have been developed Caithness will have the greatest density of windfarms in the UK but with little in the way of assessment having been done.

John said:

"In 2000/2001 I began a long correspondence with the then Highland Council in respect of policies to be pursued by the council regarding applications for wind farms. In general terms I have always been in favour of the development of wind energy and, indeed, have supported a number of applications in the constituency.

"I was, however, concerned that there was no principle or policies being applied to the overall accumulation of wind sites and the cumulative impact that it would have.

"At the time the then convener, David Green, responded to the effect that there was no mechanism by which the council could develop a strategy which was a matter for the Scottish Government.

"On taking up the issue with the Scottish Government, I was told that it was a matter for local authorities and that it was they who should develop policies. In 2004 I continued to press the case and the new council, under the leadership of Alison Magee, agreed, with the result that the authority did formulate a policy with regard to wind farms. This was a step in the right direction but did not address some of the issues of the cumulative effect."

"If we now look at the number of sites in the county of Caithness which have been approved and where construction has either started or is about to start, it is clear that there has been a massive development and that Caithness, when all existing sites have been developed, will have a turbine density far greater than any other part of the UK.

"This cumulative impact must now be taken into account and I am arguing strongly that there should be no further major wind-farm development in the county of Caithness until after all the existing sites have been constructed and the true impact of accumulation can be gauged."