tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post7156957275978630685..comments2024-03-23T09:47:39.612+00:00Comments on alan sloman's big walk: Talladh-a-Bheithe Power StationAlan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-78929805260154036242014-08-26T21:08:49.997+01:002014-08-26T21:08:49.997+01:00Actually, I found out the news BEFORE the e-mail c...Actually, I found out the news BEFORE the e-mail came through. I've become so obsessed that I check WEA and everywhere else before I head out to work in the morning. Donation already sent. Amazing, isn't it - work work work to pay tax tax tax, then pay through the nose for electricity and THEN keep putting your hand in your pocket to support conservations bodies and community groups to redress the wrongs done by the undemocratic organisations you've just paid tax to ... and I suppose they use the taxes to fund their undemocratic actions. Just as well I work a lot lot lot.Janenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-90262511482007982432014-08-26T09:46:07.263+01:002014-08-26T09:46:07.263+01:00Good morning Jane.
It IS a good morning isn't ...Good morning Jane.<br />It <b>IS</b> a good morning isn't it?<br />:-)<br />Yes - I had the email from JMT in my inbox this morning as well.<br />Good for the JMT - at last - a fighting fund is being launched to take the Scottish Government to court!<br />I'll be writing a post on this ths evening.<br />:-)Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-59511047693673378182014-08-26T08:43:12.841+01:002014-08-26T08:43:12.841+01:00JMT are seeking a judicial review of the Stronelai...JMT are seeking a judicial review of the Stronelairg decision. The fight ain't over yet. They are calling for donations to fund it. Janenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-3613425221219198912014-08-10T11:53:30.856+01:002014-08-10T11:53:30.856+01:00Thanks for that, Louise.
A clickable link to the ...Thanks for that, Louise.<br /><br />A clickable link to the MCofS news article is <a href="http://www.mcofs.org.uk/news.asp?s=2&id=MCS-N11475&nc" rel="nofollow">HERE</a><br /><br />A clickable link to the Facebook page is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-Rannoch-Wild/1503423759871338" rel="nofollow">HERE</a>Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-27603366917991386892014-08-10T11:49:34.930+01:002014-08-10T11:49:34.930+01:00Murdo Fraser MSP (conservative) has lodged a parli...Murdo Fraser MSP (conservative) has lodged a parliamentary motion no. S4M-10744 details are on the MCofS News Page http://www.mcofs.org.uk/news.asp?s=2&id=MCS-N11475&nc <br />Keep Rannoch Wild is asking all Scots whatever their political views and party alllegiances, whether they are voting yes or no in the referendum to stand together to protect the one thing Scotland is famous for - it's magnificent wild scenery.<br />All you have to do is email your MSP's asking them to support this motion, if it gets cross-party support it's going to be difficult for ministers to approve the planning application. This is probably even more important than the objection letters.<br />Please all Scots just take a couple of minutes for an email details are on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-Rannoch-Wild/1503423759871338Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00957495721965511088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-58442142551220018192014-08-10T10:37:54.941+01:002014-08-10T10:37:54.941+01:00It has been obvious to the SG that turbines do imp...It has been obvious to the SG that turbines do impact upon tourism, but they have relied upon out-of-date (skewed) surveys that support their public proclamations that they in fact increase tourism.<br />And so they are happy destroying their own countryside ~ all to flog a few intermittent MW to what they hope will be a foreign country.<br /><br />Have a good time in what remains of the summer, Gibson.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-42587277083590765352014-08-05T09:34:38.198+01:002014-08-05T09:34:38.198+01:00Tragic Alan. Recently the Frandy Hill (Ochils) Win...Tragic Alan. Recently the Frandy Hill (Ochils) Windfarm proposal was refused on appeal and it seems likely, though not admitted, that the objection from Gleneagles Hotel (owned by Diageo) played a major part in the decision. The Ryder Cup takes place at Gleneagles in September and with coverage being beamed across the world, including no doubt the very fine view up Glen Eagles, the word around here is that the SG did not want 'golf tourism' damaged by unsightly turbines being visible from the golf courses. We hill walkers are obviously of much less importance than golfers.<br /><br />Excellent post from Phil which says it all really. Enjoy what remains of the summer - it's a beautiful autumnal morning here in Kinross-shire!<br />afootinthehillshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06670636358354420373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-18227333643617671682014-08-03T20:49:51.549+01:002014-08-03T20:49:51.549+01:00"I don't know how many walkers are stayin...<i>"I don't know how many walkers are staying away from the Highlands because of wind farms..."</i><br />You won't be the only walkers staying away, Gibson. My friend Phil Lambert and I have done about ten TGO Challenges together over the years and he & I have both come to the same conclusion that after next year's Challenge (my 20th) we won't be back. By then, Stronelairg will be under way, Dunmaglass built, Dell will have been consented (it's inevitable) and probably Talladh-a-Bheithe as well.<br />It's getting more and more difficult to plot a route across Scotland now to avoid windfarms and their dreadful haul roads and pylon runs. The Beauly-Denny line alone is a massive scar we have to cross.<br />You can find an excellent post by Phil that lays out our reasoning perfectly.<br />Click <a href="http://www.doodlecat.com/tgo/Phil2014/part04.html" rel="nofollow">HERE</a> to read it.<br />Instead, I'm probably going to the Alps or Pyrenees, with shorter forays to Scotland where I know there are no turbines.<br />It's incredibly sad.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-29434796763548869652014-08-03T20:29:56.437+01:002014-08-03T20:29:56.437+01:00As usual Alan, you've hit the nail precisely o...As usual Alan, you've hit the nail precisely on the head. I don't know how many walkers are staying away from the Highlands because of wind farms but just today Lynne and I have been discussing cancelling a backpacking trip planned for next May. Twice this year we have taken holidays outside Scotland.<br /><br />afootinthehillshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06670636358354420373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-22069988789375172162014-08-03T17:15:51.391+01:002014-08-03T17:15:51.391+01:00Thank you William!
We shall have to have a beer or...Thank you William!<br />We shall have to have a beer or two together in the Bree Louise in May.<br />:-)Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-36872013255585682002014-08-03T17:07:53.579+01:002014-08-03T17:07:53.579+01:00Email sent. Hope they read it.
Good Luck, Willia...Email sent. Hope they read it.<br /><br />Good Luck, William BurtonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-4668463467555744022014-08-03T16:37:22.734+01:002014-08-03T16:37:22.734+01:00As a very famous politician once said, Dave, "...As a very famous politician once said, Dave, "Now you might very well think that, but of course, I could not possibly comment."<br /><a href="http://youtu.be/Oz8RjPAD2Jk" rel="nofollow">Francis Urquhart</a>Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-3430246260687283562014-08-03T16:03:55.049+01:002014-08-03T16:03:55.049+01:00He's become quite the politician himself, hasn...He's become quite the politician himself, hasn't he? Use enough caveats and weasel words and your views will eventually become so opaque as to be meaningless; which I suspect is the objective - it is, after all, how politicians work.<br /><br />As a friend of mine is inclined to say about politicians of all shades: Same ****s, different coloured ties.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-28001625420195666252014-08-03T15:07:33.698+01:002014-08-03T15:07:33.698+01:00I left a comment on that blog last night, pasting ...I left a comment on that blog last night, pasting in a comment from Tom Forrest that the blogger had removed.<br />This morning my comment was removed.<br /><br />However - I had already taken screen grabs of the removed comments in the context of the discussion. They will be appearing on this blog in the next few days in a post discussing comment threads on blogs.<br /><br />There'll be no mincing around - the blogger will be named & shamed.<br />Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-46668241895056838392014-08-03T14:57:09.914+01:002014-08-03T14:57:09.914+01:00Ah well, Alan, it appears that the thread we had a...Ah well, Alan, it appears that the thread we had all been commenting on has been discontinued by its originator as he feels enough has been said on the subject. I know you know this. Amazingly, he seemed to have it in for *my* posts in particular. I wonder if this was because I was the only female contributor to the thread ... Only joking, as one must in order to stay sane.Janenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-59922901201675491762014-08-03T14:40:55.275+01:002014-08-03T14:40:55.275+01:00I think both JMT & MCofS have been out-manoeuv...I think both JMT & MCofS have been out-manoeuvred by ScotGov.<br />As soon as you create these areas you invite their encirclement - which ruins the land anyway as you can see the developments from within the areas.<br />I recall you saying this would happen years ago, Gibson.<br />I think the anti-wind farm campaigners have been all too gentlemanly. There should have been more aggressive campaining - stopping delivery trucks on roads, more fuss/ demos at Holyrood. Scotland against Spin & Linda Holt have has the right idea - demos at SNP conferences - make the politicos more aware with a bit of heckling when they are not expecting it on Question Time etc, getting the problem aired on national TV.<br />*sigh*<br />The JMT bottled taking the Scot Gov to court over Stronelairg (after drawing a line in the sand!) - and I suppose that was the end of it.<br />We are now left with developers picking off areas of land at their choosing and the planning laws allowing it.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-9903328473710437422014-08-03T12:04:51.155+01:002014-08-03T12:04:51.155+01:00I don’t think many of us thought that the Wild Lan...I don’t think many of us thought that the Wild Land Map offered any material protection to<br />Wild Land. It wasn’t safe before the map and it isn’t safe now. <br /><br />Worse still, it has made it much more difficult to credibly oppose wind farm proposals in other areas and, take note all who live in areas outside the designated wild land areas, the MCoS in their Letter of Objection, Section 4 Material Considerations, paragraph (e) write: <br /><br />"Its (Talladh-a-Bheithe) anticipated contribution to electricity generation (equating to only 0.34% of the amount generated in Scotland in 2012) can be provided through consenting of other developments not located in Wild Land"<br /><br />Exactly how much credibility will the MCoS have if and when it objects to ‘other developments not located in Wild Land’? - say in Trotternish on Skye? Zero. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />afootinthehillshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06670636358354420373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-84145577496511039412014-08-02T22:47:17.518+01:002014-08-02T22:47:17.518+01:00Indeed, Dave.
The BBC is hamstrung by the 28Gate m...Indeed, Dave.<br />The BBC is hamstrung by the 28Gate meeting.<br />Those guys dictated policy and are still in control, be it at the beck & call of the NGOsAlan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-71669678697155968342014-08-02T22:39:14.192+01:002014-08-02T22:39:14.192+01:00I think I still have the email somewhere from a jo...I think I still have the email somewhere from a journalist where he outlined the futility of trying to get the BBC to cover the issue of turbines in an even-handed manner. Of their higher profile natural history presenters, I think the only one I have ever heard speak out openly on the subject is Iolo Williams and he - to his credit - is actively supporting the protest against the clear-felling of Clocaenog forest to accommodate turbines. <br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-87094354588149522522014-08-02T21:18:03.983+01:002014-08-02T21:18:03.983+01:00To be honest, Jane, I realised years ago that Scot...To be honest, Jane, I realised years ago that Scotland's wild lands were going to be ruined under Salmond's administration, as he had upped the target for Scottish renewables massively over those set by the EU and Westminster. Simple maths showed that the wild land was going to be swamped by turbines. So in 2011 I organised the <a href="http://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/WAKE%20FOR%20THE%20WILD" rel="nofollow">Wake for the Wild</a><br />It seems I was absolutely spot on - Scotland's government is still hell-bent on destroying it's treasures.<br /><br />We had coverage from the Times, local newspapers and even though the BBC didn't give a stuff, a couple of European television stations did think it was newsworthy and sent a crew to cover it.. <br />The BBC did't give a stuff.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-36399028391941217872014-08-02T21:01:39.014+01:002014-08-02T21:01:39.014+01:00I agree with you, totally, Jane
If you look at peo...I agree with you, totally, Jane<br />If you look at people who are active in politics - at any level - it is incredibly low. Most people either don't think that their opinions will matter, and others have too much going on on their lives to spare time to things that they feel they will have little effect.<br />Of course, there are others who don't give a stuff.<br /><br />I *did* see your post on CM's website (indeed I have been emailed a copy of it, and I saw it there myself last night. This can only mean that Cameron himself removed it, which is a very poor show.<br /><br />I shall paste it below for you!<br />:-)<br /><i>Jane commented:<br />"Excellent swordplay, Willie, thank you for cutting to the chase and the quick. That the name of “Rannoch” should be uttered in the same breath as “wind farm” – other than in statements of the kind “It is of course out of the question that areas such as Rannoch Moor could EVER be considered suitable locations for wind farm development … ” – is an assualt on Scottish identity. Place is the foundation of everything. We, as humans, are guests in that Place. That the Scots don’t recognise this is, frankly, dismal."</i><br /><br />Nothing controversial. But of course, it does shred the SNP Government's energy policy to shreds. Could that be it?<br />Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-6582040890467837292014-08-02T20:26:13.115+01:002014-08-02T20:26:13.115+01:00Can one chain oneself and one's tent to a piec...Can one chain oneself and one's tent to a piece of peat bog in the targeted area in order to protest? (Answer: Yes, but you wouldn't get any media coverage since the BBC would turn a blind eye, so you'd just get very soggy and driven mad by midgies ... )Janenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-21444428468698429712014-08-02T20:19:44.366+01:002014-08-02T20:19:44.366+01:00Hi Alan,
I tend to agree with you. However, with...Hi Alan,<br /><br />I tend to agree with you. However, with regard to the general public, I still can't understand why so few people take enough interest in their surroundings/the land they live in to want to investigate whether the pap they are being spoon-fed is actually true. I was born in Glasgow, lived there, lived in Edinburgh, lived a long time in Paris and then came to my senses. Scotland is one of the most beautiful countries on this planet and I fail to see how anyone can call themselves a patriot or vote Yes without considering the importance of Place and Landscape in defining Scottish national identity. Humans are Guests in these wonderful places.<br /><br />Sorry, grief makes me ramble. I liked your post on CM's website. I posted a reply to Willie Ross's comment myself last night but, guess what, it doesn't seem to be there ... !Janenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-20059148334279957252014-08-02T19:28:35.743+01:002014-08-02T19:28:35.743+01:00Thank you for that - Most illuminating:
The Scotti...Thank you for that - Most illuminating:<br />The Scottish Government can do what it damn well likes and the locals who object will be ridden straight over in the interests of a Woeful Scottish Energy Policy.<br />SNAFU.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-84878526482369421102014-08-02T19:14:32.312+01:002014-08-02T19:14:32.312+01:00Alan - this is what we put up after the Dersalloch...Alan - this is what we put up after the Dersalloch decision; we thought perhaps readers of your blog might like to have a look at it as well.<br /><br />It transpires that it was within the powers of Scottish Government Ministers to decide whether to hold a PLI with regard to Dersalloch. It wasn't simply that because South Ayrshire Council didn't object from the word go, but objected subsequently, that precluded a PLI.<br /><br />So the Ministers have decided to ride roughshod over the Council and the nearly 5000 objectors.<br /><br />Ministers seem to be making law on the hoof.<br /><br />If we consider the Wild Land issue:<br /><br />NPF3 addresses Wild Land<br /><br />o Para 3.24 says that “spatial frameworks should guide new wind energy to appropriate locations taking into account important features including wild land”<br /><br />o Para 4.4 says “we also want to continue our strong protection for our wildest landscapes – wild land is an important asset<br /><br />SPP2 addresses Wild Land<br /><br />o Table 1 lists Wild Land as a nationally important mapped environmental interest to be given significant protection<br /><br />o Para 200 – which confirms the sensitivity of remote land. It states “Plans should identify and safeguard the character of areas of wild land as identified on the 2014 SNH map of wild land areas”<br /><br />NPF3/SPP2 PR dealt with Wild Land<br /><br />o It states “We have taken steps to ensure that no wind farm developments can go ahead in our cherished National parks and National Scenic Areas, and we have strengthened the protection of wild land, with new maps and inclusion directly in the SPP and NPF3”<br /><br />The Limekiln s.36 Inquiry Correspondence deals with Wild land in a different way<br /><br />o In response to a request for a SG Policy Witness the correspondence eventually produced the following from the SG<br /><br />o “wild land policy, like most policies, is open to interpretation depending on the particular circumstances at hand – in the case of wild land depending on the context around the wind arm proposal in question. The interpretation of policy ………needs to be flexible depending on circumstances. It is ultimately for the Ministers …..to interpret policy for the purposes of making a decision”<br /><br />Conclusions<br /><br />o “Interpretation” seems to be the watchword for Ministers<br /><br />o So, the “strengthened” protection of Wild Land will depend on circumstances<br /><br />o Does the “interpretation” also extend to the banning of wind farms from National Parks and NSA’s<br /><br />o Is this a classic example of Ministers spinning one message about protecting Wild Land whilst enabling themselves to “interpret policy” “depending on the context” so as to approve wind farms in these supposedly protected areas.<br /><br />There appears to be no effective cohesive body which is able to prevent the Scottish Government doing just what it wants to do, in the name of the Scottish people.<br />Wind Energy's Absurdhttps://www.facebook.com/WindEnergysAbsurd?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmarknoreply@blogger.com