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Caithness
Windfarm Information Forum - CWIF -
The maps on our Windfarm Maps page show the impact of turbines on Caithness and Sutherland If you care about preserving
this beautiful area from the onward march of turbines,
The Accident
Statistics now total over 1,000.
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How wind turbines generate huge profits for the rich
Waubra Foundation Report on Acoustic Pollution
Renewables UK are trumpeting the
results of their latest poll Timing
of Visit Scotland survey questioned
Pandora’s
Pinwheels (video) New report on noise from the Renewable Energy Foundation
Live Newsfeed from National Wind
Watch
Europe Windfarm News from EPAW
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LIMEKILN WINDFARM The developers have arranged further open days for the public to see their latest proposals in Reay Village Hall Thursday 24 and Friday 25 May 2 - 8 pm Details on developer's website See also under Current Proposals
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NOW CONFERENCE 24-25 June in Northwich, Cheshire Chaired by Lord Alex Carlile, of Berriew, C.B.E., Q.C. Confirmed speakers include:
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STROUPSTER
WINDFARM At the Public
Meeting in They also announced that the turbines, including 36 x 40m. blades, will be landing at Wick, going south to Latheron, up the A9 to Thurso, turning right by Tesco, through Castletown, round the coast to John O'Groats and down the A99 to their final destination. Travelling at an average of 15 mph could result in some disruption to traffic.
A turbine blade on its journey
and part of a tower
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NO2windfarms
Construction of a windfarm on peat:
Mountaineers object to Dalnessie (Northern Times - 29 Apr 12) Upper Smerral rejected (John O'Groat Journal - 23 Apr 12) Plans to raise height of Camster turbines (Caithness Courier - 11 Apr 12) Protest over Camster windfarm (Press & Journal via NWW - 7 Apr 12) £20m to subsidise windfarms (John O'Groat Journal - 6 Apr 12) Preserving
a landscape (Heritage Action - 23 Mar 12) Site visit planned for Forss (John O'Groat Journal - 16 Mar 12) from Wales "We
should not have to take medication" (thisissouthwales - 7
Mar 12) Noisy neighbours (Scotsman - 21 Feb 12) Rob Gibson MSP and the cackling chicken (Ross-shire Journal - 14 Feb 12) Letter - Two year guarantee says it all (Northern Times - 27 Jan 12) Developer wants Forss decision reviewed (John O'Groat Journal - 27 Jan 12) MCofS members urged to object to Sallachy (Grough - 27 Jan 12) Our MSP blasting off again (Caithness Courier - 25 Jan 12) Turbine near Stroupster windfarm approved (John O'Groat Journal - 13 Jan 12) Construction of Camster Windfarm begins (Business Review - 12 Jan 12) Stoer community turbine blade flies off (Northern Times - 6 Jan 12) Green Trust objects to Glenmorie (Scotsman - 6 Dec 11) Conservation charity objects (STV news - 6 Dec 11)
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Do they really expect us to believe them?
"The Scottish
Government will only approve the right wind farm applications in the
right places, "The Scottish Government will only allow windfarms to be built where the impacts have been found to be acceptable - and unsuitable applications are rejected." "While Ministers believe it is right to make the most of the opportunities that are offered by our abundant natural energy resources, this must be done in a way that protects the environment and takes account of the views of local communities." “While we value the contribution well-sited windfarms can make, the Scottish Government is committed to protecting Scotland’s landscape and natural beauty and agree that windfarms should not be built without careful consideration of their potential impact on the environment before any decision is made on whether they should be given the go-ahead.” "Every application for wind farm development is assessed against local development plan policy and on its merits, taking into account the views of statutory consultees, interested parties, local communities and the public. Unsuitable applications are rejected."
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BALLAD O' THE WIND WARRIORS
Oh hills o Scotland when will we see
yer charm again Our shores are blighted wi' steel in
great arrays The time has come noo that we must gather
and unite
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The hills have been turned into a man-made industrial estate, covered in gigantic white turning monsters totally destroying any visage of remoteness. Yes, they shout at you, man is master of nature and we mean to show it. Well, any nation which can do this to its landscape loses any right to complain about anything else anyone else does, be it rain-forest removal, strip mining, whaling, deep-sea drilling... this is environmental desecration, destruction and degradation of the worst order. If I lived in England and saw this advert for arrogance when travelling north I would most certainly speak out in favour of Scottish independence... as in the film, "The Last Great Wilderness", where the Welcome to Scotland sign has been altered to "Scotland, you're welcome to it!" from "Out and about with Ralph" (Caithness Courier - 25 Jan 12)
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Farewell to the mountains,
high-cover'd with snow, Apologies to Robert Burns,
who must be spinning in his grave
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for West Virginia read Scottish I believe we are all
responsible for our environment and must challenge every intrusion.
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Community Benefit (courtesy Graham Lang) "Where does Community
Benefit come from? From the income of the wind farm.
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"They are no good when the wind
doesn't blow and they are no good when the wind does blow.
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First there was a problem with Proven turbines
Another
turbine fire that could not be put out and set fire to burning brush
"As a standard precautionary
measure, all Infinis staff vacate wind farms when wind speeds exceed
Wind turbines fly off in storm
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Quote from Scottish Energy Minister: "Scotland, under the SNP, will not, does not and cannot rely on renewable energy alone. It will be part of a mix - a balanced mix." The minister said some people might be under the impression that the Nationalists' plan was for "all our lights to be kept on by renewables". He added: "Plainly this is absurd. It's not true and it's important for me to state that this is the case." From the walls of the Scottish Parliament building: The battle for conservation
will go on endlessly. What would the world
be, once bereft
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PETITIONS UK Govt. e-petition: John Muir Trust Wild Land Campaign
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CONSULTATIONS
Scottish
Government Consultation
Inner
Moray Firth Local Development Plan consultation -
An
inquiry into
Scottish
Government Consultation on Review of ROCs
Highland
Wide Local Development Plan
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PLANNING Scottish Government proposed increases to planning fees
House of Lords Private Member's Bill House of Commons Private Member's
Bill
Wind
Farms - Distance from Housing
Scottish Natural Heritage - Highland Council considers
VisitScotland presentation on Highland Tourism Highland Council Planning Policies
and Guidance for onshore wind energy Highland Council Special Landscape Area Citations Highland Council Green Networks Details
of Beauly Denny PI and Decision Windfarms - Distance from Housing (House of Commons Library - 8 Jan 10) A Guide to the Planning System in Scotland (3 Aug 09) Climate Change (Scotland) Bill granted Royal Assent (5 Aug 09) Scottish Government Renewables Action Plan (1 Jul 09) Scottish Government National
Planning Framework 2 now published
document - draft Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy |
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Separation Distances - Important clarification from the Scottish Government Scottish Planning Policy 6 (SPP6) eases the passage of windfarm applications through the system by opening up opportunities which were formerly no-go areas. Determining Authorities are under pressure to meet Scottish Government targets and these targets are being given priority over the lives of ordinary people unfortunate enough to live close to a windfarm proposal. SPP6 contains important but neglected Guidance under "Communities" in Annex A on proximity of windfarms to dwellings and on residential amenity. CWIF is a member of the networking organisation Stop Highland Windfarms Campaign (SHWC). SHWC wrote to Mr Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism and asked for clarification. As a result, in a letter to SHWC, the Directorate for the Built Environment has now clarified the proximity issue and reaffirmed the terms of SPP6 in respect of residential amenity. The correspondence was also sent to the Director of Planning & Development at Highland Council. The relevant paragraph says this: "The 2km separation distance is intended to recognise that, in relation to local communities, visual impacts are likely to be a prominent feature and this should be taken into account when identifying the most suitable search areas. However, impacts will clearly vary considerably depending on the scale of projects and the proposed location. That is why SPP6 confirms that, in all instances, proposals should not be permitted if they would have a significant long term detrimental impact on the amenity of people living nearby. This principle applies to houses within and outwith 2km of the proposed development and regardless of whether they are single dwellings or part of a settlement." Click here to read the questions and answers in full. It is to be hoped that Determining Authorities will implement this Guidance with immediate effect.
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Den Brook landowner loses appeal (This is Devon - 27 May 11) Judicial
Review attempt rejected (BBC News - 27 May 11) Still
awaiting decision on Blackcraig (Galloway News - 14 Oct 10) Anger over leaked
decision (Press & Journal - 26 Oct 09) Glenfiddich windfarm to go to Public Inquiry following refusal (Northern Scot - 16 Oct 09) Stacain windfarm refused after Inquiry (BBC News - 15 Oct 09) Windfarm would have unacceptable
impact on landscape (Courier - 10 Oct 09) Gorsedd Bran windfarm inquiry opens with protests (Denbighshire Free Press - 7 Oct 09) More
on Black Craig windfarm - Argyll & Bute (National Wind Watch
- 2 Oct 09) Public Inquiries website with documents (Persona Associates)
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Caithness Windfarm Information Forum is a group of people concerned by the potential destruction of the unique heritage of Caithness and Sutherland through industrial windfarm development for no material reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and no significant contribution to climate change. The forum welcomes as members those who wish to safeguard our heritage and environment and may also support the development of sustainable energy resources which will provide clean and secure energy. |
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Duncansby
Stacks - Photo: Ben MacGregor
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Wind
energy cannot provide what is known as "base load", therefore it cannot
replace any of the secure supplies currently available. Proliferation
of wind turbines severely degrades our local environment for no perceptible
advantage. |
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Caithness
Windfarm Information Forum wants to see responsible
Local and National energy policies which combine reliable, controllable
and predictable low carbon energy supplies with adequate protection of
our fragile environment, countryside and communities. |
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CWIF is a voluntary organisation whose sole source of funding is through membership fees, fundraising events, and donations. The membership fee is a single lifetime payment because we value your support more than your money. However, we cannot maintain this website, hold meetings, keep the membership informed etc. without money, so any donation is deeply appreciated. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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