THE Scottish Government is being urged to “Keep it Wild” by a new campaign aimed at protecting the country’s “unique” landscapes.
The drive, launched today by conservation charity the John Muir Trust, urges ministers to build new safeguards into the forthcoming Planning Bill.
The Trust said this could be used to give designated wild land areas protection from industrial-scale development, including the creation of pylons, quarries and windfarms in national parks and national scenic areas.
The push comes as the Creag Riabhach windfarm case comes before the Court of Session. Judges there are to decide if it was right to approve the 22-turbine development in Altnaharra, with five of the generators to be erected within the same wild land area.
Highland Council received more than 200 objections to the project, which is said to be strong enough to power 36,000 homes and save 66,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
Approving the scheme, Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said it had “popular support”, and the decision marks the first time developers have been allowed to encroach the boundaries of a wild land area.
However, the Trust fear it could become a “Trojan horse”, attracting more major developments in sensitive locations.
In a poll commissioned to mark the campaign launch, 80 per cent of respondents said wild land areas should be protected from large-scale infrastructure development.
Helen McDade, head of policy at the John Muir Trust, said: “Protection for wild land areas must be enshrined in legislation before they are lost for good.
“Wild land is a key part of Scotland’s natural heritage and national identity.
“It’s hard to think of any other public issue which commands such a universal consensus across age groups, geographical regions and social classes.”
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