Callanish Stones turbines rejected “in national interest” 9/2/13
Plans to build two wind turbines on a croft on Great Bernera have been thrown out “in the national interest” because they would spoil the look of the ancient Callanish Stones, across the sea some five miles away.
Crofter and merchant seaman Norman Macdonald sought to build the 900kW generators, each 67 metres high, on an apportionment to the north of number 24 Kirkibost on the island of Bernera to the west of Lewis.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar went against its own planning officers and approved the application in March last year.
The Callanish Stones are the top tourist attraction for the Western Isles and nationally are equal in importance to Stonehenge, said island planners.
They also highlighted the building work would create significant investment within the Western Isles and benefit local companies, contractors and their employees on top of indirect spending in local shops. There would be local jobs in their ongoing maintenance. Annual payments to the community would be invested in improving local amenities.
The planning bid was two 900kW wind turbines, each 67 metres high, which could power
about 1,500 houses, as well as access tracks, a sub-
But it was called in by the Scottish Government “in light of the national interest this proposal raises” because the monoliths are a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The government has now refused the planning application, maintaining they would spoil the prehistoric landscape.
It had appointed Donald Harris as planning reporter to assess the development and carry out a site visit.
In his report, Mr Harris stated: “This is not the only possible site for wind turbines, whereas the Callanish Standing Stones re immovable.
“The setting of such a supremely important national monument merits the most careful treatment.”
He said the wide view from the Callanish Stones to the west and south “is so important in complementing the monument, with its wild and unspoilt landscape of sea loch, moorland, rocky hills and distant mountains. The proposal would seriously compromise the quality of this landscape setting.”
Mr Harris said the “damage” would be significantly compounded by spoiling the view enroute to Great Bernera and on the island.
“The intrusion of two turbines would detract from the timeless quality of this landscape. Tourists visiting Great Bernera would find that the unspoilt quality of the approach to the island and of the island itself had been lost.”
Mr Harris accepted “there would be some economic benefits” like local services, such as the shop, benefit during the construction phase.
He highlighted there would be a “significant annual payment of community benefit.”
But, “against this, the important tourist trade would suffer, as the unspoilt quality of the island was found to have been lost.”
The nearest neighbours did not oppose the development. It is understood some others later withdrew objectons.
However, Mr Harris said: “Residents, particularly those living close to the application site, would also find their environment compromised. On balance, the effect on the local community would be harmful.”
Scrapping the plans now avoids the need for a fresh survey to asses any impact on eagles.