Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council will tonight (Wednesday) consider commissioning a survey of local people's views on a renewed bid to develop a turbine venture at Stroupster.

While supporting the move, a prominent anti-wind-farm campaigner is urging the community councillors to discuss other planned wind farms at Durran and Spittal Hill.

Stuart Young wants them to reconsider their reluctance to take a stance on schemes outwith their patch.

Mr Young, of Caithness Windfarm Information Forum, believes they should firm up a stance on Durran and Spittal Hill as the turbines would be clearly visible from large parts of the community council area.

Mr Young said yesterday: "I'm delighted that they are taking Stroupster seriously. The turbines would be so dominating that it would be an absolutely disastrous proposal for local people were it given the go-ahead.

"However, I believe the community council should be informing and consulting with the people they represent on the two other sites which would also have a major impact on their area."

Mr Young has prepared photomontages of a number of wind farms.

Community council secretary Irene Hendrie yesterday said members had decided at a previous meeting that they do not have a remit for wind farms outwith the community council boundaries. She said: "Stroupster is within our area and affects the community we represent, so there is a proposal that we carry out a survey to find out what people want."

Npower renewables had its application for a 12-turbine scheme on a woodland at Stroupster, near Auckengill, turned down by the Highland Council in June last year. It has since re-applied.

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