Enlarged wind farm will slaughter eagles says wildlife trust 19/7/13
The John Muir Trust has lodged an objection to a major wind farm extension on core
wild land in South Lewis famed for its golden and white-tailed eagles.
As well as endangering these rare birds and industrialising the core wild land area
of Eisgein (as mapped by Scottish Natural Heritage), wind turbines on the site would
also be visible from four summits within the mountainous South Lewis, Harris and
North Uist National Scenic Area.
Mick Blunt, John Muir Trust Western Isles Area manager said: “This proposal for a
second extension to the Muaitheabhal Wind Farm represents a full frontal assault
on the new wild land map published by Scottish Natural Heritage and on the Scottish
Government’s own planning proposals that are now out to public consultation.
“The extension would create a jungle of steel and concrete in the heart of one of
just three core wild land areas in the Outer Hebrides.
“Alarmingly, the developers – by their own conservative estimate – admit that these
12 proposed turbines could kill more white tailed eagles than all 107 previously
consented Lewis wind turbines combined. This is an extraordinarily high collision
rate for such a small scheme, and emphasises how important the Eisgein estate is
for this species.
“If this project were to get the go-ahead, it would starkly contradict the Scottish
Government’s promise to ‘safeguard the character of Scotland’s remoter upland, mountain
and coastal areas’, and would make a mockery of the core wild land map published
by SNH.”