Stop Turbines At Glenurquhart

STAG is a community group seeking to prevent the spread of wind farm developments in the highland community of Glenurquhart

Stop Turbines at Glenurquhart (STAG) was established by a group of local residents opposed to the further development of windfarms in the Glen and surrounding area.

Stirred by the Cnoc an Eas application, STAG now has 230 members. STAG is supported by 56 local businesses involved directly, or indirectly, with the tourist industry.

In August 2015, the Glen Urquhart Community Council held a public meeting to discuss the proposal. Representatives of both F9E and STAG delivered presentations and a written statement from Soirbheas was read out. The meeting was well attended (over 100) and on a show of hands, virtually all of those present were against the development. Subsequently, the Glen Urquhart Community Council submitted an objection to the proposal.

The Highland Council received 287 objections to the scheme and only 12 letters of support. In addition to the heartfelt objections from local residents and a robust objection by STAG, objections included those from:
- Historic Environment Scotland (formerly Historic Scotland)
- The Highland Council Historic Environment Team
- The John Muir Trust
- Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd
- The Mountaineering Council of Scotland
- Glen Urquhart Community Council
- Kiltarlity Community Council
- Strathglass Community Council
- Kilmorack Community Council
- Drumnadrochit Chamber of Commerce
- Scottish Wild Land Group

Scottish Natural Heritage expressed serious concerns about the proposal and said that the applicant had understated significance landscape issues and underestimated cumulative landscape effects. They also expressed concerns about the impact on Wild Land areas to the west of the site.

Highland Council refused the application on 9th May 2016.

The developer has appealed to the Scottish Government.

Tags: Community Organization