Our Accident Statistics and Windfarm Sites sections are regularly updated and we
provide online Objection forms to all applications that concern us.

Quick Links to other sections on this page:

Caithness/Sutherland News • Public Inquiry Reporting • Other News
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Hill of Stroupster, Auckengill, Wick - Public Local Inquiry
(further information here)

Kilbraur extension application on agenda for Tuesday, 23 June

Community Council defend democracy (John O'Groat Journal - 12 Jun 09)

Are developers exploiting system at taxpayers' expense? (John O'Groat Journal - 29 May 09)

Shebster windfarm refused (John O'Groat Journal - 15 May 09)

Minutes of Bettyhill windfarm planning hearing now posted on HC website (15 May 09)

HRES sidelined (Caithness Courier - 22 Apr 09)

More on Achairn windfarm (Press & Journal - 20 Apr 09)

Achairn to be operational this month (Scotsman - 19 Apr 09)

2km rule applies to single dwellings (Caithness Courier - 15 Apr 09)

Windfarm planned for Sinclair's Bay dunes (Caithness Courier - 8 Apr 09)

Achairn turbines travel through Wick (John O'Groat Journal - 3 Apr 09)

Achany construction work will disturb breeding birds (Northern Times - 2 Apr 09)

Work to start at Achany windfarm (BBC News - 30 Mar 09)

Bettyhill windfarm approved (Northern Times - 19 Mar 09)

Wadlow, Cambridge, Public Inquiry starts (Cambridge News - 9 Jun 09)
local website here

Objectors' leader's house pierced by turbine at Berwick? (Journal Live - 1 Jun 09)

Angus windfarm rejected after Public Inquiry (Press & Journal - 30 May 09)

Landscape evidence at Berwick Public Inquiry (Berwick Advertiser - 27 May 09)

Calliacher Public Inquiry (Perthshire Advertiser - 22 May 09)

Carlisle windfarm to go to Public Inquiry (News & Star - 9 May 09)

Opening of Berwick Public Inquiry (Berwick Advertiser - 7 May 09)

Scottish Govt. interfering in Public Inquiry (Berwickshire News - 6 May 09)

Scottish borders windfarm rejected by Public Inquiry (BBC - 14 Apr 09)

Baillie Public Inquiry - archaeology experts clash (John O'Groat Journal - 25 Mar 09)

Scottish Public Inquiry process questioned (Berwickshire News - 25 Mar 09)

Baillie Windfarm Public Inquiry reports (Press & Journal and John O'Groat Journal - 18 Mar 09)

see also Berwick Windfarms Public Inquiry website

New noise guidelines for developers? (Journal Live - 12 Jun 09)

Offshore grid will need £billions more (Sunday Times - 7 Jun 09)

First floating turbine (BBC News - 5 Jun 09)

The cost (Times - 25 May 09)

Blots on the Landscape (Sunday Herald - 25 May 09)

ASA rules against developer's image (Harborough Mail - 21 May 09)

Windfarm kills goats (BBC News - 21 May 09)

Europe's largest windfarm still not large enough (BBC News - 20 May 09)

Wind turbine taxes to be raised fourfold (Sunday Times - 17 May 09)

North Scotland grid connection dates brought forward (Press & Journal - 9 May 09)

40m Euros for Aberdeen windfarm (BBC News - 7 May)
Biggest windfarm in Europe for Aberdeen (Press & Journal - 6 May)

RSPB buys own turbine (Guardian - 6 May 09)

The legal case against windfarms (Guardian - 3 May 09)

Opposition to Glenfiddich Estate windfarm (Northern Scot - 1 May 09)

John Swinney announces e-planning (Scottish Government - 29 Apr 09)
see here for Highland details (Highland Council)

MEP letter to Miliband "more research needed" (Grimsby Telegraph - 27 Apr 09)

Scottish Power says backup needed (Reuters - 22 Apr 09)

Lewis windfarm may go ahead (Press & Journal - 21 Apr 09)

Spread of windpower a catastrophe? (Daily Mail - 21 Apr 09)

Possible legal challenge to Beauly-Denny line (Scotsman - 20 Apr 09)

Energy Minister to visit Lewis (Scotsman - 16 Apr 09)

Peatlands must be conserved article (Times - 13 Apr 09)

Investment in wind energy industry collapses (Times - 11 Apr 09)

SHETLAND
Petition reaches 3,500 (BBC - 10 Jun 09)
Call to extend consultation (BBC - 2 Jun 09)
Shetland threatened by huge windfarm (Guardian - 20 May 09)

GORDONBUSH WINDFARM
Planning application for alternative access submitted (Northern Times - 4 Jun 09)
Access route agreed but consents required (Northern Times - 11 Dec 08)
Progress on access route row? (Northern Times - 4 Dec 08)
Councillors refuse to make decision on roadside wall (Northern Times - 6 Nov 08)
Planning Meeting Agenda and Report 3.3 (Highland Council website - 4 Nov 08))
Road widening recommended for approval (Northern Times - 3 Nov 08)
SSE rethink access route (Northern Times - 30 Oct 08)
Now they want larger turbines (Northern Times - 16 Oct 08)
Power company blames landowners (Northern Times - 9 Oct 08)
Salmond asked to intervene on access (Northern Times - 25 Sep 08)
Protest on access (Northern Times - 18 Sep 08)
Latest letters (Northern Times)
More letters (The Herald)
Long delays on A9 (Northern Times - 11 Sep 08)
Estate says deer cull humane (Press & Journal - 6 Sep 08)
Windfarm to result in massive deer slaughter (Northern Times - 4 Sep 08)
Anger over threatened deer cull (Press & Journal - 4 Sep 08)
Row brewing over Gordonbush access (Northern Times - 28 Aug 08)
Dismay over Gordonbush access route (Northern Times - 21 Aug 08)

WINDFARMS and RADAR:
Threat to aircraft (Times - 25 May 09)
MoD blasted for mixed signals (Dumfries & Galloway Standard - 22 May 09)
MoD want Argyll turbines lit at night (Press & Journal - 11 Sep 08)
MoD demand turbines are lit (National Wind Watch - 28 Aug 08)
Gordon Brown intervenes (thisismoney - 10 Aug 008)
Still no answer to Radar problem (Journallive - 9 Aug 08)
MoD object to windfarms (Northumberland Gazette - 17 Jul 08)

TELEVISION RECEPTION ISSUES
Turbine in Bangor causing interference (BBC - 18 May 09)
More TV problems in Co. Durham (Northern Echo - 30 Mar 09)
Co. Durham - company admits tv problems (Evening Chronicle - 6 Nov 08)
Television reception fears over Durran windfarm (Caithness Courier - 5 Nov 08)
Scottish Power pay to overcome tv interference problems (Sunday Herald - 2 Nov 08)
Windfarm blamed for loss of TV (Independent.ie - 6 Oct 08)
Whitelee windfarm causing tv problems (East Kilbride News - 23 Jul 08)

HIGHLANDS SUB-SEA CABLE
Sub-sea cable from Lewis planning application (Press & Journal - 27 Oct 08)
Plans lodged for huge cable (Hebrides News - 25 Oct 08)
Villagers concerned over plans (Hebrides News - 23 Oct 08)

BAT DEATHS:
More danger from lit turbines (see also MoD section below) - (Aspen Daily News - 19 Sep 08)
Bats in Ireland (Irish Examiner - 15 Sep 08)
Pressure causes lungs to pop - Calgary University research (Gauntlet - 11 Sep 08)
Video of Calgary research results (Youtube)
Change in air pressure can kill bats (BBC News - 26 Aug 08)
Windfarms serious threat to bats (New Scientist - 25 Aug 08)
Researchers alarmed by bat deaths (Washington Post - Jan 05)
Early report of bat deaths near windfarms (Renewableenergyworld - Nov 04)

IRISH LANDSLIDE:
Call for moratorium pending full investigation (Ocean.fm - 6 Oct 08)
Another slide (Independent.ie - 26 Sep 08)
Opinion - more care needed with peatlands (Irish Examiner - 1 Sep 08)
Landslide - could this happen here? (The Post.IE - 31 Aug 08)
More on Irish landslide (see also links on this page) - (The Kerryman - 28 Aug 08)
Another huge landslide in Ireland - this time in Kerry (Irish Times - 25 Aug 08)
How did this happen? (Irish Times - 25 Aug 08)
Salmon and Trout stocks wiped out (Irish Times 26 Aug 08)

COUNCIL TAX AND PROPERTY VALUES:
Another family seeking Tax reduction (Spalding Today - 13 Aug 08)
Welsh protestors now calling for Council Tax cuts (Shropshire Star - 8 Aug 08)
latest on Property Prices (Kent News - 6 Aug 08)
Council Tax and Property Values (Scunthorpe Telegraph - 4 Aug 08)
Council Tax Victory (Peterborough Today - 29 Jul 08)
BBC interview (BBC News - 28 Jul 08)
Windfarms and Property Values (Telegraph - 26 Jul 08)
read the full Tribunal Decision Notice here

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.

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.

Buolfruich Windfarm from Scaraben - Photo: Ben MacGregor

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.