Following consultation with its members, the MCofS adopted a Development in Mountain Areas Policy at its 1994 AGM. This has guided MCofS consideration of, and submissions on, development proposals, and is clearly still very relevant in this context. The burgeoning number of windfarm proposals that are coming to light is of increasing concern to many mountaineers, hillwalkers and other people, with many local action groups having been established (see links).

However, the process through which windfarms are planned and are eventually withdrawn, rejected, modified or approved does not make it easy for the MCofS, its members or other interested people to input and make their views known. The following is a general, though not universal, sequence of events:

1. an embryonic interest in a site is generated by developers

2. an application to site one or more temporary anemometer masts is made to the local planning authority

3. the application is advertised locally, with a prescribed period for people to object or submit their comments to the local authority

4. local authority considers application

5. if the anemometer application is approved it/they is/are installed and wind speeds measured throughout the year

6. developer decides if they wish to take their plans further

7. developer may consult the local authority, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and/or other agencies about their plans (pre-application consultations). These may be in commercial confidence.

8. developer formally seeks a scoping opinion from relevant bodies (such as SNH, SEPA and the local authority) prior to preparing an Environmental Statement which will support their application

9. developer submits an application to the Scottish Executive for onshore windfarms in excess of 50 megawatts (MW) under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 or to the relevant local planning authority for onshore windfarms below this threshold, under the Town & Country planning (Scotland) Act 1997

10. application is considered by the relevant authority and there is a prescribed period for people to submit their comments or object.

During the whole of this process which may take several years there are very limited opportunities for the input of views by the public.

To facilitate MCofS input to the process it would be very helpful if information on any proposals at whatever stage could be e-mailed to info@mountaineering-scotland.org.uk with a “Windfarm + location” subject. Information on paper can be posted to the MCofS office.