ACCESS & CONSERVATION NEWS
It's been a busy few months in the world of access and conservation. MCofS Access & Conservation Officer Mike Dales gives a resume of some of the main topics:
Wind Factory sites no-go areas?
An MCofS member noticed this sign on the site of the Bowbeat Hill Wind Factory in the south of Scotland, and we regard it as an attempt to restrict access to the area of hillside on which the turbines are located. The new access legislation does not give a statutory right of access to areas such as telecommunication sites, for reasons of safety and potential damage to infrastructure, and the MCofS is concerned that wind factory sites may be seen in the same light, which could restrict access across large areas of countryside.
We decided to take it up with the relevant local authority and contacted the Borders Council Access Officer, who has been in contact with the operating company. They have indicated to Borders Council that they will change the signs, but we are still awaiting confirmation as to whether this has been done.
This sign does raise the issue of safety at wind factory sites. Up to now the message from operators has been that they are safe and there is no need for access restrictions, but this sign is an indication of the opposite view being taken. We are concerned that restrictions on access are currently not an issue for local and visiting people making decisions on whether they agree or disagree with their development, but future health & safety issues could later lead to a closure to these areas of land. If there is an issue of safety then it's important this is known now. Although MCofS position is that we will fight to prevent factories being installed in inappropriate places in the first instance, it is a further complication if those who still choose to go to areas where their development has been agreed, are then denied access.
Cuillin Mountaineers Statue Proposal
The community of Sconser on Skye is planning to commemorate the climbing partnership of Norman Collie and his local guide John Mackenzie, who were instrumental in Skye's early climbing development over the turn of the century, including the ascent of The Cioch in 1906. John Mackenzie was from Sconser and it is fitting that the modern day community wish to see this historic climbing relationship celebrated and permanently remembered.
The community is looking at having a statue built close to the Sligachan Hotel and the MCofS are part of the consultation process to find the most appropriate location for the statue. Our concerns are for the protection of wild land and of views into (and out from) wild land areas. Whilst we wish to see the famous mountaineers commemorated, we don't want their statue to be a distraction from the classic views of the Black Cuillin from the Sligachan Bridge, or of Marsco from the Sligachan Hotel.
In one respect we feel the quality of these superb views is already compromised by the inappropriate line of wooden electricity poles that march across the hillside and impose on every photographer's pictures from Sligachan. We therefore hope that by working with the Sconser community we can help them to find an acceptable location for the statue and improve the wider landscape around Sligachan by pushing to have the electricity line buried underground or re-routed along the other side of the main road.
Report Wildlife Poisoning
As reported in the last edition of The Scottish Mountaineer the MCofS is working with the Scottish Executive and the Police to help in the fight against wildlife crime. The Scottish Executive has asked us to raise awareness amongst our members of the Freephone line for reporting incidents of such crimes. Anyone taking their recreation in the countryside should keep an eye out for any possible instances of wildlife poisoning or suspicious behaviour and report it to 0800 321 600.
Hillphones – The 10th Anniversary
This year's stag stalking season will be the tenth time that the MCofS has worked with SNH and participating estates to operate the Hillphones scheme. Now covering 17 areas and including 101 Munros and 37 Corbetts, Hillphones has grown from an experimental system with three pilot areas in 1996, to a high profile system that is used by thousands of hill walkers every year.
The 2005 Hillphones leaflet is enclosed with this magazine and once again provides information on the areas covered, the Hillphone numbers and general advice for walking in the stalking season.
What Do You Think?
The leaflet asks for feedback on the scheme, so if MCofS members have anything to say about Hillphones we would welcome your comments. Please send them to our office, or via e-mail to info@mountaineering-scotland.org.uk
MCofS AGM Recommends:
Members Oppose Power Line
At the MCofS AGM on June 18th members who were present voted unanimously to support a tabled motion that the MCofS should urge its affiliated clubs and individual members to object to the proposed Ullapool to Beauly and Beauly to Denny pylons.
Members also voted in favour of a second motion to express concern that the Government's proposed new compulsory planning powers might be used to force through building pylons and wind farms in wild mountainous areas (see the Guest Article).
The two motions were raised on behalf of the Aberdeen based Cairngorm Club by the club's President Ian Bryce.
The proposed pylons are not just being opposed by the mountaineering community; they are stirring up vociferous opposition from local communities from Ullapool to Denny. If the developers and Scottish Executive insist on pushing ahead with this plan they can expect to face considerable opposition as the fight to protect our precious landscapes really hots up.
Speaking after the Cairngorm Club motions had been passed at the AGM, Ian Bryce said: “I welcome the decision. This pylon route does not make economic sense as the cost benefit to the economy of wild mountain scenery has not been considered. As a civil engineer I realise that compromise is sometimes needed, but these huge pylons, some 2 or 3 times higher than existing ones, will spoil the landscape for tourists, mountaineers and locals. Access roads will be required for construction. It seems ironic that as the new outdoor access legislation has only just been introduced that the mountain landscape could be severely damaged. The pylons would be 50 metres high and run from Ardmair Bay (north of Ullapool) to Beauly and then to Denny. This route would affect Ben More Coigach, Ardmair Bay, Ullapool, Loch Broom, Beinn Dearg, the Fannichs, Fort Augustus to Errochty, the Corrieyarrick Pass and the Laggan Hills to name but a few. Our mountain scenery is too valuable to be spoilt to save Scottish and Southern Energy money. A concerted effort to oppose this pylon line is needed by all individuals and clubs who are concerned at the environmental impact of huge pylon lines on our mountains. I urge all concerned to write a short letter in their own words. They should ask their MSPs to object to the Minister regarding this proposed new 400 KV Pylon Line.”
The MCofS welcomes the Cairngorm Club motion and hopes that as many individuals and clubs as possible will make objections to this proposed pylon line.
Beauly to Denny – Application Expected
At the time of writing in mid-July we have heard that a final plan has been published by SSE for the proposed Beauly to Denny pylon line, and although there are to be less pylons they remain at 60+m high, they follow virtually the original proposed line and no provision is made for under-grounding at sensitive areas. The consultation period for any planning application will probably be short (a month) and we would urge anyone who wishes to make an objection to keep looking at our website for up-to-date news.
Alladale Wildlife Park
Unless you have been on a 6-month expedition to Outer Mongolia you will have heard the news reports of a plan to create a fenced-in wildlife park on the Alladale estate in Easter Ross. Paul Lister, the new owner of the 23,000 acre estate, has announced his plans to stock the estate with European grey wolves, bears, lynx, boar and European bison.
The MCofS is concerned about the impact this would have on access to such a large and remote area, which includes the winter cliffs of Seana Bhraigh (also a Munro) on the very edge of the estate and An Socach containing the 200m Alladale Pillar (VI,6), one of only a handful of vertical free standing icicles in Scotland. An Socach also has the unique Alladale Slabs featured in the MCofS's Climb Through History Series (see Scottish Mountaineer Issue 15 December 2002). For baggers there is Carn Ban (Corbett) which must be one of the most remote in Scotland and the really remote bothy of Glenbeg.
We are also concerned about the effect these plans could have on the wider debate about reintroductions of wild species. After the successful reintroduction of sea eagles and red kites, and with an ongoing debate about the reintroduction of the European beaver, and a great deal of support for the reintroduction of wolves, we fear that this plan for something that is more akin to a theme park could overshadow that debate and get in the way of the good work that others are doing to bring back Scotland's lost species.
Local farmers and crofters are concerned about the enclosed animals escaping the circling fence and causing havoc amongst their livestock, so Paul Lister is likely to encounter problems from a range of interest groups when applying for planning permission, but the MCofS concerns would be the loss of wild land (bisected by large electrified fencing) and loss of access to an area of remote hills and climbing.
Glen Coe Road Report
We reported in the last edition of The Scottish Mountaineer that roadworks in Glen Coe will be ongoing for several years and lead to traffic light and single carriageway systems being in place. At most times of day it seems that delays might only be for 5 minutes or less, but at busy times and when the contractors are blasting delays could be longer. The MCofS is in contact with the National Trust for Scotland staff in Glen Coe, as well as the Scottish Executive and BEAR Scotland, so we will continue to keep you informed of progress.
As you have driven round Scotland over the summer you may have noticed overhead gantry signs on motorways warning of delays in Glen Coe, and some have even had flashing lights to draw attention to them. Some people have driven up the A9 and across the A86 in order to avoid Glen Coe, only to hit other roadworks and take significantly longer than their planned journey via Glen Coe would have taken. Along with the NTS and Glen Coe business community we felt that the motorway warnings were inappropriate now that the blasting has finished, so we made a request to the Scottish Executive to remove the signs and they were happy to comply with this.
The latest news we have of work on the Lairig Eilde bridge is that the blasting has been completed and the traffic lights will now be used to operate a single carriageway section past the roadworks, but there shouldn't be any more temporary closures for some time.
Current Consultations
Two current consultations that members might be interested in responding to are:
| Consultation | Closing Date | Further details |
| Scottish Forestry Strategy | 16 September | www.forestry.gov.uk/SFS |
| The Planning System | 16 September | See Guest Article |
Snapshots
The following is a list of additional Access and Conservation activities that the MCofS has been involved in over the past three months. Unless stated otherwise, Mike Dales has been the officer involved in these issues and meetings.
- Provided talk on new access arrangements to the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association National Conference.
- Attended National Access Forum Parliamentary Reception.
- Worked with other recreation bodies to set up and run the first Local Access Forum recreation training day.
- Spoke at SNH wind turbines and pylons workshop.
- Attended site visit with Forestry Commission staff to inspect footpath work on Beinn a'Bheithir and Beinn Mhic-Mhonaidh.
- Attended 2 Glen Coe car park & lay-by planning meetings.
- Attended meeting of National Access Forum on May 17th.
- Attended meeting of Upland Path Advisory Group Mike Newbury and Nick Halls.
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