Sutherland campaign group No Ring of Steel waiting in trepidation for Highland Council decision tomorrow on Strath Oykel wind farm

A SMALL Sutherland community is preparing to face its second major wind farm application of the year.

Highland Council's North Planning Application Committee meets tomorrow (Tuesday) to discuss its position on the controversial 11-turbine Strath Oykel development - proposed by German-owned Energiekontor UK.

The proposal is so large it will be decided upon directly by the Scottish Government in Edinburgh, but Highland Council – as the host authority – will be invited to submit an opinion.

The site is near the village of Rosehall, where campaigners say the landscape is already at “saturation point” with onshore wind farm development.

No Ring of Steel (NORoS) have urged the local councillors to listen to the concerns of residents and oppose the plan.

Earlier this year an eight-turbine bid for a site at nearby Meall Buidhe was rejected by local councillors.

The manager of the Lower Oykel Fishings has warned the Scottish Government that, if approved, the wind farm and its construction would jeopardise one of the county's best fishing spots and be “devastating to the salmon population and highly-protected and rare freshwater pearl mussels”.

In in a response to that letter, the private secretary for Michael Matheson – the Net Zero secretary – assured locals they would take concerns seriously.

He wrote: “Please be assured that a final decision will only be taken after careful and thorough consideration of all material issues including the representation received, consultee advice, relevant environmental information, including the impacts on fish, as well as all planning information in accordance with the relevant legislative obligations.”

If approved, the proposal would see turbines built reaching a height of 200 metres, taller than any building in Scotland and among the highest blades in the country.

There are also concerns about the construction process, high traffic volumes on single-track roads with no pavements, and how vehicles will access the proposed site.

Ashley Smith, spokesman for No Ring of Steel (NORoS), said: “There is huge local opposition to this plan. Our part of the Highlands is at saturation point with onshore wind farms and can’t sustain any more.

“We feel we’ve played our part with renewable energy and now it’s time for the remaining unspoilt landscape to be protected and preserved for the future.

“The decision will ultimately be made by the Scottish Government, but we feel it’s important that Highland Council represent the views of those who will be affected by it.

“It would damage our everyday quality of life, put businesses at risk and could cause major problems for wildlife and fishing.

“We are worried about our rural landscape turning into an industrial one.

“These enormous turbines would reach 200 metres in height, will tower over the village and are totally out of proportion with the local landscape.

“The nearest properties will be just 1.5km from these enormous turbines and residents will be disturbed by blade noise, shadow flicker and at night by aviation lights which will stand out in a dark sky area that does not even have street lights.”

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