Landward Caithness representative Robert Coghill said the go-ahead would be "devastating" for the residents near the 21-turbine development and stressed the Scottish Government had granted consent although the planning application was rejected by the Highland Council and opposed by many in the community.

Mr Coghill said he was against the development as it is being sited in a prominent location in Caithness and would be too close to houses in the area.

"This Government has said it is a listening government but they have become a dictatorship," Mr Coghill told the John O'Groat Journal this week. "When Mike Russell was environment minister he said the SNP really cared about people in rural areas and was not a central Scotland party, but that has proved to be hollow words. The Scottish Government has become a modern-day Patrick Sellar."

Sellar was the Duke of Sutherland's factor who played a prominent role in the Highland Clearances in the 19th century.

Mr Coghill stressed he is not against wind farms but opposed the Baillie development because of its location.

"Caithness is known as the big sky county and we do not want to ruin our landscape with wind turbines," said the councillor, who would like to see more emphasis being placed on energy-efficiency measures.

His Landward Caithness colleague David Bremner is also unhappy with the Scottish Government's decision to grant approval for the wind farm.

"I am disappointed," he said. "The Highland Council and the local community made strong representations at the public inquiry against the development."

The councillor feared the Scottish Government judged the Baillie application on political grounds instead of a "case-by-case basis".

He said: "We have been waiting for a decision on this proposal since last summer and now it comes out a few days after the announcement about the upgrade of the Beauly to Denny line. That could be coincidence but there is the possibility it has been driven by politics."

Tom Pottinger, of Baillie Wind Farm Ltd, did not want to be drawn into the political argument. But he said: "We were pleased with the public support we received for this scheme, as highlighted by the fact that there were 1262 public representations received - 829 in support and 433 objections. The project also went through an extensive public inquiry.

"This £80 million project will bring considerable economic regeneration opportunities, with the delivery of a West Caithness Community Fund supporting local projects and five local businesses supported with rental income. Caithness is ideally placed to take advantage of renewables and the delivery of clean, green energy."

Norwegian energy utility Statkraft is a partner in the Baillie wind farm. Shimon Shoshani, project developer, commented: "We are delighted that permission has been granted for 21 wind turbines at Baillie, supplying almost 25,000 homes with renewable energy and significantly contributing to Scotland's renewable energy target of 50 per cent by 2020.

"As Europe's largest provider of renewable energy generation, Statkraft plans to continue to substantially invest in renewables in Scotland.

"Scotland provides an excellent location for renewable energy sources and is beginning to lead the way for the rest of Europe in creating a low-carbon economy."

The wind farm on ground at Bardnaheigh and Stempster was given the go-ahead on Tuesday. The decision followed a seven-day public inquiry which was held in Thurso in March.

The 52.5 megawatt wind farm will feed electricity in to the upgraded Beauly-Denny line. The development will create 30 jobs during the construction phase with permanent local operation and maintenance jobs. It is also expected to contribute about £100,000 a year to a community benefit scheme.

Energy minister Jim Mather said the scheme would be good for Scotland's low-carbon economy and would help tackle climate change.

"We are already on track to surpass our target of meeting 31 per cent of electricity demand from renewables by 2011 and a whole range of renewable technologies will play their part in achieving our target of 50 per cent by 2020," he stated.

Baillie Wind Farm Ltd applied for consent for the project in July 2004 but later made amendments to its plans. Following an objection from the Highland Council, ministers agreed to hold a Public Local Inquiry. After hearing from supporters and opponents, the reporter, David Russell, recommended that consent should be granted.

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