Scotland's wild land is an asset of national and international significance, but it is a finite resource. Wild land plays a vital role for carbon storage in trees and peatland. It gives us clean air and water and food and is home to valuable wildlife. Wild land, such as the Glendye/Clachnaben area, also plays a vital role in supporting tourism and a wide range of other economic and leisure activities.
As a group we are supportive of the current targets of the U.K. and Scottish government for greenhouse gas emissions reduction. However we can not support the construction of industrial scale wind-energy developments on wild land such as the Glendye/Clachnaben, as this will have a destructive impact on the eco-system of the area.
As a group we are supportive of the current targets of the U.K. and Scottish government for greenhouse gas emissions reduction. However we can not support the construction of industrial scale wind-energy developments on wild land such as the Glendye/Clachnaben, as this will have a destructive impact on the eco-system of the area.
Clachnaben, a Special Landscape Area
Scottish Natural Heritage defines a Special Landscape Area as follows:
There are many areas where the scenery is highly valued locally, and local authorities often give these landscapes a local designation. This is to ensure that the landscape is not damaged by inappropriate development, and in some cases encourage positive landscape management. These designations play an important role in developing an awareness of the landscape qualities that make particular areas distinctive, and promote a communities sense of pride in their surroundings.
There are many areas where the scenery is highly valued locally, and local authorities often give these landscapes a local designation. This is to ensure that the landscape is not damaged by inappropriate development, and in some cases encourage positive landscape management. These designations play an important role in developing an awareness of the landscape qualities that make particular areas distinctive, and promote a communities sense of pride in their surroundings.
Aberdeenshire Council have granted Clachnaben and the Mounth plateau Special Landscape Area status. The attached Aberdeenshire document on Special Landscapes was voted on and accepted by the Council in the spring of 2017. Below is also a short video for those of you who don't wish to read through the complete document.
https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/planning/plans-and-policies/aberdeenshire-local-development-plan-2017/
Strategic Landscape Capacity for Windfarms
Aberdeenshire Council has stated very clearly in the supporting documentation that there is NO more strategic capacity for windfarms in the Glendye/ Clachnaben area (Moorland Plateaux) https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/planning/plans-and-policies/the-strategic-landscape-capacity-for-windfarms/