SCOTLAND's biggest national park is objecting to plans to build a 34-turbine wind farm on the edge of its boundary.The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) says the proposed development at Glenkirk, Tomatin, would have an unacceptable visual impact and would potentially harm tourism in the area. It also has concerns over the impact on protected species, such as golden eagles.
Eurus Energy Limited has lodged a planning application with the Scottish Executive for the wind farm, with the closest tower being 380 metres from the park boundary. The Highland Council has formally sought the CNPA's views on the development.
Andrew Tait, CNPA's planning officer, said: "We consider the development to be contrary to national, Highland and CNPA planning policy as well as three of the four aims of the Cairngorms National Park.
"Although this development is not in the park, we believe that the aims of the park should not stop dead at the boundary as marked on the map, but ideally should be considered beyond the invisible line.
"If given the go-ahead, this wind farm will be well within 400 metres of the park boundary and the most visible wind farm from the national park. As such, the proposal has the potential to set a dangerous precedent for further wind farms to be located in such close proximity to the boundaries of a nationally and internationally recognised landscape."
Richard Stroud, a planning committee member, said: "Wind farms outwith the park boundary can still be visible from the park and will impact on the landscape and people's enjoyment of the area.
"While the park authority supports renewable energy initiatives, smaller, more community-based projects are considered more appropriate for an area which has been designated a national park for the beauty of its landscape and rich variety of wildlife."
The CNPA objected to two other proposed wind farms on the periphery of the park earlier this year. A 36-turbine wind farm at Dunmaglass in Strathnairn and an 11-turbine development at the Hill of Snowy Slack near Kildrummy were deemed inappropriate.
Meanwhile, 6,131 objections have been made against a planned huge wind farm in Lewis, with 4,573 coming from local people.
Lewis-based campaign group Moorland Without Turbines says the figures show that for every person who wrote to support the scheme from the islands, 269 people wrote and objected.
Catriona Campbell, the group's chairman, said: "At last we have official confirmation of the unprecedented level of protest against this industrialisation of our land.
"The council voted in favour of it against the wishes of those who will be affected. Every community council and councillor in North Lewis, the area directly affected, has voted resoundingly against it."
She added: "In addition to these local objections, there are also believed to be hundreds of letters from outwith the islands calling for a halt to this proposal.
"Bodies such as Scottish Natural Heritage, RSPB, Scottish Ramblers, Western Isles Health Board, SEPA and Greenpeace have also publicly stated their concern and objection to the world's largest onshore wind-farm proposal."