Conservation organisation Proact International are calling for objections to be submitted to the Scottish Executive, in respect of the application to build what would be Europes largest wind farm on the Isle of Lewis. The applicants, Lewis Wind Power Ltd, a joint venture between AMEC and British Energy propose to build 234 wind turbines as shown on the map below. The site is within the North Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area (SPA), classified under the European Council Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.

Proact believe the proposal will have a damaging impact on a number of important bird populations including Golden Eagle, Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver, Dunlin, Merlin and Greenshank, both through the danger of collision with turbines and the loss of habitat through the building of roads and drainage to service the site. They also consider that allowing this application would set a precedent that conservation directives can be ignored. The scenic quality of one of Britain's areas of outstanding natural beauty would also be damaged.

The application is also opposed by RSPB Scotland who say 'The AMEC proposals are a serious challenge to the network of SPAs, not only in Scotland, but throughout Europe.'

The MCofS has submitted an objection to the application, which can be read here.

This application is obviously also a major factor in the proposal to build a new transmission line across land from the west coast near Ullapool to join the National Grid at Beauly. The MCofS submitted a response to this recently.

For more info on the Lewis proposal:
The applicants: www.lewiswind.com www.amec.com www.british-energy.com	Community websites: www.iomairtnis.com www.mwtlewis.org.uk
The RSPB view www.rspb.org.uk	Proact www.proact-campaigns.net

Objections to the proposals should be submitted before 13th December 2004 to  

Ms Lesley Thompson
The Scottish Executive
Consents and Emergency Planning Unit
lesley.thomson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
also to the Western Isles Council
lewiswindapplication@cne-siar.gov.uk

MCofS Windfarm Pages