Cabrach Trust CEO Jonathan Christie explains signing windfarm development pause letter
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE Cabrach Trust's CEO has explained why the group supported an open letter looking to pause future local windfarm development.
Jonathan Christie said that, while wind turbines are essential, Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils must work out whether there are too many turbines nearby.
Also signed by other local groups, politicians and local businesses, the letter is asking for a pause on upcoming windfarm planning applications in the Upper Deveron Valley until studies are completed.
Mr Christie said: "This is categorically not an anti-wind letter.
"The group completely supports efforts to get towards net zero commitments and make things as sustainable as possible.
"We work very closely with existing windfarms, including Clashindarroch and Dorenell.
"But, along with councillors and politicians, we are asking a very adult question: 'Who is holding the reins of energy planning?'
"There are applications for swathes of new onshore windfarms and a growing trend of concern at the scale of industrial development in what is a very rural setting.
"We just need to make sure we avoid a disproportionate impact here because the push for net zero should be a national drive."
The Cabrach Trust is a small charitable trust aiming to regenerate and repopulate the Cabrach.
As much as 1000 people lived in the Cabrach at one stage but, over the last 100 years, the population has declined to under 100 people.
Last year the Cabrach Trust reached two milestones by bringing back the Cabrach Picnic and Games and taking steps towards establishing the Cabrach Distillery to fund the organisation's work.
Mr Christie said increased windfarm development could negatively impact those living in the Cabrach.
He said: "People in the area have highlighted a range of impacts on their lived experience.
"Impacts that we don't fully understand, given the scale of the new development.
"These include light flicker and amplitude modulation.
"The Cabrach is one place that has already suffered a significant decline throughout the decades and could be impacted further by this."
Prior evaluations of the number of windfarms in the Upper Cabrach found, in 2014 and 2017, that the area was approaching capacity.
Mr Christie said: "There was an exercise done which found that, if all of these applications go ahead, there will be 178 in a 10km radius concentrated in the Upper Deveron valley from the Cabrach to Glass.
"It impacts on the community and it has a subjective but hugely important impact upon wildness.
"It's part of the character of the area and there is a balance to be found."
The Trust head also emphasised that the group is happy to work with windfarms that have already received planning permissions.
He said: "It is not about opposing all future wind farms.
"We recognise that with Clashindarroch I, which is already in the ground, the developer has concluded that joining it with Clashindarroch II seems reasonable and I wouldn't object.
"I will very happily say that.
"But then there are four further developments above that in the Upper Deveron Valley, where does the capacity remain?"
