Views will be ‘totally trashed’ if turbines go ahead, say caravan site couple
A Caithness couple are worried that the landscape around their tourism business in the centre of the county will be “totally trashed” by wind turbines.
Nicola and Mark Paterson manage Morvenview Caravan Site, close to the proposed Swarclett Wind Farm. Their own residence nearby is called Aurora View – but they fear any sightings of the northern lights will be ruined if the two turbines go ahead.
Wind2 is seeking permission to build the wind farm on agricultural land approximately one kilometre south-east of Mains of Durran. The proposed turbines each have a blade-tip height of up to 149.9m and a battery energy storage system is also part of the development.
Opponents in the Bowertower area are concerned that 10 properties will be within 1500 metres of the wind farm and four properties will be even closer, at around 850m.
Morvenview is located 1100 metres from one of the proposed turbines. As its name suggests, the caravan site has views to Morven and other hills to the south.
It also has an open outlook to the north – ideal for holidaymakers when the northern lights are visible.
Mrs Paterson said: “We get visitors all year round and some are attracted by the prospect of grabbing that memorable image of the aurora in full glittering detail.
“If people visit the Morvenview Caravan Site Facebook page they can see some of the photos posted by our visitors and read about how they have been blown away by what they have seen.”
The wind farm site is close to a standing stone known as the Stone Lud, which is associated with the death of the 10th-century Orkney earl Ljot Thorfinnsson.
Mr Paterson said: “We fear for the future of our very livelihood if these turbines are permitted – and it’s not just the view to the north that may be trashed. There have already been ‘energy investigators’ sniffing around in the area immediately to the south, adjacent to the Stone Lud, an important historic feature that lies just 150m from our home.
“If Highland Council doesn’t get more concerned about the devastation to the Caithness landscape we are at risk of having the views to the north and the south totally trashed and major attractions of our business rendered worthless.”
Mrs Paterson added: “People shouldn’t underestimate the lure of some of these historic features.
“As well as our overnight residents, we see plenty of visitors who have come specially to see and photograph the Stone Lud. Last year we were chatting to someone who had come all the way from Toronto!
“Standing stones and the ley line theories that accompany them have quite a following. How awful it would be for people to turn up and find a fine historic view simply littered with turbines.
“What a terrible message it would send to the world about how little Highland Council appears to care for Caithness, its residents and its landscape.”
Earlier this month Wind2 said the Swarclett turbines will have “minimum impact” on the surrounding area. Community benefit will include a scheme to help reduce electricity costs for residents.
Campaigners from the No to Swarclett group have called the turbines “monstrosities” that will have an unacceptable impact in terms of visual impact and noise. Another group, Save Caithness, has branded the proposals “inexcusable”.
The application documents, including the environmental impact assessment report, can be viewed on the Highland Council website. Public comments are open until February 7.