Consent to construct and operate a wind farm at Cnocan Buidhe, Camster, Lybster

Changed access through Achairn, off the A882 Thurso/Watten/Wick trunk road

This application is in an area presumed against wind farm development and is against the Highland Council's planning guidelines.

While the applicants have done a detailed assessment of the cumulative impact we cannot agree with their conclusions. It is too close to the Burn of Whilk proposed wind farm, no more than a couple of miles at the nearest point. Camster wind farm is sited on elevated ground, so it would be prominent over a wide area. It is completely unacceptable to have two wind farms so close together.

The proposed development is sited partly on exposed moorland, with unconstrained views and partly within an existing coniferous plantation which will be felled during construction. There is a strong visual relationship between the site and Yarrows Archaeological Trail. The A99(T) tourist road between Wick and Latheron is on this coastal strip. An industrial wind farm within this open and windswept landscape on high ground would be extremely obtrusive and out of character. The Highland Council's own Policy G5 states that developments which will have a significant, adverse effect should only be approved if there is no alternative.

The impact on the landscape would be severe. The turbines would be visible from a wide area including the all important adjacent Yarrows Archaeological Trail, Sinclair & Girnigoe Castle, Ulbster, Roster, Sarclat and Thrumster. It would be visible from as far away as Wick, Lybster, Stroupster, Keiss, Ackergill, East Mey, Dunnet Head, Bilbster, Causeymire and Spittal, over Munsary and to the Scrabster Brae direction, west of Thurso.

It is near to the Hill of Olicett which is also near the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area and Ramsar Site at the Hill of Olicett, which is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Loch Wattenen and the Hill of Warehouse are also SSSIs, all close to Camster. It is contrary to Policy G2, G6, BC1, BC2, BC3, L4 and SP27 of the Highland Local & Structure Plans. The landscape, including the Grey Cairns of Camster, would be destroyed, being dominated by such huge wind turbines.

The Grey Cairns of Camster which are Neolithic (c.4400-6000 years ago) are a scheduled monument, in the care of Historic Scotland. The proposed wind farm would detract from the wild and timeless visual amenity of the cairns in their wider setting. It is important to enhance cultural heritage, including the landscape, for future generations. It is vital to protect them from industrial developments. The chambered cairns were not built in isolation, but near settlements, especially where there are several cairns together, as at Camster. The whole area including Yarrows and the Burn of Whilk is a highly sensitive area archaeologically, much of it uninvestigated.

Archaeology is an important source of economic development, tourists are fascinated by our wide open spaces, one of the last great wildernesses left in Europe. We must not lose them.

This is divided between peatland, moorland and forestry, sweeping moorland for grazing to the north and an additional area to the south, within the main forestry block adjacent to the road, of blanket bog. 60 ha of the forest is to be deforested as part of the mitigation strategy. It is not clear how this is to be left. The peatland habitat would be adversely affected.

Peat slide on this site is a minor risk, provided good site procedures are carried out. Any disturbance of peatlands, especially blanket bog, releases the CO2 stored in it adding to global warming. Our peatlands are the best natural ecosystems for storing CO2 - better than rainforests. It is not physically possible to restore blanket bog to its original state. The concrete bases will be left in the ground after site restoration and the landscape will be permanently scarred with tracks, borrow pits etc.

The solid bedrock below the peat is of the Caithness Flagstone Group. There would be a risk of sedimentation entering the watercourses and changes to the drainage patterns affecting flora and fauna in the blanket bog and burns. The Strath and Achairn Burns drain the area and are tributaries of Wick River.

Site preparation, deforestation, forestry track improvements, floating tracks within the wind farm site, hardstanding, cable laying, construction of turbine bases, ditches, watercrossings, borrowpits (quarries), all cause runoff and disturbance to the hydrology of peatlands and the mitigation measures have to prevent sedimentation discharging into burns and watercourses, ending up in Wick River. These problems, as well as waste disposal and chemical spills, could also affect the private water supply to Lower Camster.

This is a priority habitat and has a significant effect on the ecology. The following species are of very high sensitivity:

• Greylag Goose and Red-Throated Diver over-fly the area.
• Breeding/feeding species of high conservation importance, Annex 1 of the European Birds Directive, are Hen Harrier, Merlin, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Greenshank, Short-eared Owl and Widgeon.
• Arctic Skua and Skylark are of medium sensitivity. Arctic Skua have been observed nesting in the area for over 40 years.

There is the potential risk of collision with turbine rotors especially for the Hen Harrier, where a forestry plantation has been removed.

The Environmental Statement (ES) alleges that the following Annex IV of the Habitats Directive species have not been observed, but as the habitat is suitable their presence cannot be ruled out: Water Vole (which is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority species) Otter, Badger, Pine Marten, Wildcat.

This is not entirely correct as Water Vole have been observed in the Achairn Burn. (Ref 1 Fraser E, Glass D, Hogg S. The distribution of the water vole in Caithness. In the Caithness field club Bulletin, Vol 7 no 2, April 2006)

Pine Marten and Badger have also been observed and it is unusual that there are no bats in the plantation.

There are many plant species in the areas of the burns and blanket bog including Wet and Dry Dwarf Shrub Heath, Great Sundew, Northern Marsh Orchid, Marsh Lousewort, Creeping Willow, and Bog Mosses. These would be unlikely to survive on a windfarm site.

Infrasound can be detected at distances of up to 10km from a wind turbine. Badlipster and Lower Camster could be affected by both noise and shadow flicker, but as both properties are connected with the wind farm, it would be self-inflicted. The Grey Cairns of Camster could also be affected which would ruin the Neolithic experience for visitors.

50 new jobs could be created temporarily during the construction period and only one to two permanent jobs on completion.

Tourists do not come to this part of the world to see industrial wind farms, they come to see our wild, remote, open landscape, flora and fauna and for the peace and quiet. The magic of the Grey Cairns of Camster would be ruined, as would the Yarrows Archaeological Trail and the future promotion of archaeology in this whole area.

The development would be contrary to Policy G1 of the Highland Council Structure Plan, as it will not help the social or environmental wellbeing of the people of the whole area.