tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post3383815911615789474..comments2024-03-18T08:42:30.787+00:00Comments on Chris Townsend Outdoors: Destroying the Wild: the Dunmaglass Wind TurbinesChris Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-9353596056421356942011-01-05T02:04:40.000+00:002011-01-05T02:04:40.000+00:00If wind power was the be all and end all then sure...If wind power was the be all and end all then surely it would make more sense for every home to have a mini turbine providing energy to individual homes rather than these large scale installations?<br /><br />JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-90306933149476399462011-01-01T14:14:07.337+00:002011-01-01T14:14:07.337+00:00We want government departments to take into accoun...We want government departments to take into account the wilderness value of a site before making such a decision. If they did, then there would be fewer developments in wild areas and more of them in less sensitive areas.<br /><br />I think that part of the problem is that no-one knows how to express the value of wild hand in terms that a government bureaucrat would understand (ie in financial Patrick Vincentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-49741770865086375012010-12-31T21:34:13.409+00:002010-12-31T21:34:13.409+00:00Factor in the disruption of areas of upland bog re...Factor in the disruption of areas of upland bog resulting from the need for access roads and distribution pylons (in addition to the pads for the turbines themselves) and it's doubtful if many of these developments even stand to be carbon neutral over their entire working lives.<br /><br />Anon's posts remind me of the naive and childlike views of quite a few members of supposedly green Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-41425067503206988182010-12-31T21:32:28.760+00:002010-12-31T21:32:28.760+00:00I don't want nuclear power plants, I am also n...I don't want nuclear power plants, I am also not keen on coal fired plants, but I am less troubled by wind farms.<br />Hydro power has been praised, but is a wind farm any better or worse than a flooded glen and gigantic concrete dams?<br />The railway arches at Auch and Glenfinnan are said to be very nice, but they are just as obtrusive as wind farms.<br />The view of the Firth of Forth is Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-10352846050681643272010-12-31T20:15:54.042+00:002010-12-31T20:15:54.042+00:00I think its worth a read of To Hatch a Crow's ...I think its worth a read of To Hatch a Crow's brilliant postings on windfarms, another mine of information I discovered through Chris Townsend's unflinching work. I was once an unquestioning 'greeny' but turbines are seen as the latest panacea only because of subsidies, which are VAST. Ask Nick Clegg's wife. Then ask the Murdoch controlled meedja. There is no common sense selfpoweredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10690224905896399570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-6971688363686888882010-12-31T18:57:17.026+00:002010-12-31T18:57:17.026+00:00The planning map shows just how central the wind f...The planning map shows just how central the wind farm will be and how it will destroy the vastness of the Monadh Liath. I've never even implied its well-trodden. Indeed I've called it lonely. I've probably not even seen half a dozen walkers there. The hydro schemes are in use anyway. They can't produce more electricity just like that.Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-43407414603766309592010-12-31T18:55:52.138+00:002010-12-31T18:55:52.138+00:00Anon: I travel to Scotland to visit the Monad Liat...Anon: I travel to Scotland to visit the Monad Liath for their wonderful feeling of remoteness. For me they are the wash and spin drier of the soul. You don't need airy mountainous perches for renewal. You need the feeling of solitude, untouched by man's grasping hand.<br /><br />You obviously have not a drop of soul left in you. It's as well that you are leaving the conversation.<br /Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-6246186778101836412010-12-31T18:43:17.569+00:002010-12-31T18:43:17.569+00:00Anonymous has the planning map and knows how vast ...Anonymous has the planning map and knows how vast the Monadliaths are. And she thinks the right place is exactly somewhere like Dunmaglass, rather than some of the more scenically spectactular parts of the highlands. In four decades of walking the hills here, I've never seen more than half a dozen other walkers so don't make it sound as if it's the most well trodden part of the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-69625035516501920452010-12-31T18:20:22.329+00:002010-12-31T18:20:22.329+00:00Anonymous obviously doesn't even know where th...Anonymous obviously doesn't even know where the wind farm is going to be. And when the pathetic nimby insult is produced it really is time to stop the debate. I want to discuss how to stop such obscenities not bandy words with apologists for the developers.<br /><br />And I do appreciate renewable power engineering - in the right place.<br /><br />I presume anonymous is happy not to have Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-25365962229766208432010-12-31T17:57:11.824+00:002010-12-31T17:57:11.824+00:00Dunmaglass isn't in he middle of a vast unspoi...Dunmaglass isn't in he middle of a vast unspoilt area, it's adjoining Strathnairn which is quite heavily populated being so close to Inverness. And while it would be ridiculous to expect a small windfarm to supply more than a tiny fraction of the power for the whole of the UK, it certainly will provide more than enough power for most of Inverness, Strathnairn and Stratherrick. However, weAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-87504484721726069802010-12-31T17:38:56.050+00:002010-12-31T17:38:56.050+00:00Anonymous, yes I do know the meaning of disgrace.
...Anonymous, yes I do know the meaning of disgrace.<br /><br />The Farr windfarm required vast amounts of concrete plus bulldozed roads as well as the turbines. All cause damage<br /><br />The "tiny part of a huge area" that will be the Dumnaglass wind farm covers four square miles in the middle of an almost unspoilt region. As you look forward to more such schemes you are obviously in Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-90170480988518048202010-12-31T17:08:19.839+00:002010-12-31T17:08:19.839+00:00Do you actually know the meaning of the word disgr...Do you actually know the meaning of the word disgrace? And what damage has the Farr windfarm caused exactly?<br />Having a degree in Environmental Science and being a human being who recognises that I have a need for energy makes me think my view is more balanced than "soulless". No lack in understanding the issues on my part, and I have plenty of feeling for the natural world I live inAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-28377962165445817272010-12-31T16:24:55.441+00:002010-12-31T16:24:55.441+00:00It's a dumb argument to say wind farms equal e...It's a dumb argument to say wind farms equal electricity. The turbines are destructive and ugly. The Farr windfarm is a disgrace and has caused great damage. Anonymous may be happy to see the industrialisation of the hills and the destruction of nature but many of use are not so soulless and lacking in understanding or feeling for the natural world.Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-66826192819475507392010-12-31T15:21:11.977+00:002010-12-31T15:21:11.977+00:00I live in the area and I'm absoilutely DELIGHT...I live in the area and I'm absoilutely DELIGHTED that the wind farm is going ahead. After all, I need electricity just as much as anyone else leaving a comment here, and I would much rather it was generated from wind or water than coal or nuclear. The turbines look beautiful on the horizon, I certainly don't mind having them in my view everyday. And the neighbouring windfarm at Farr hasn&Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-47090390089864478682010-12-31T10:34:59.019+00:002010-12-31T10:34:59.019+00:00Thanks Chris, I hadn’t realised that the Highland ...Thanks Chris, I hadn’t realised that the Highland council had given its blessing.<br />Unbelievable. How do you work with them now. They know not what they do.AlanRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07180571503542781921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-5124557877170691622010-12-31T07:22:41.299+00:002010-12-31T07:22:41.299+00:00The last poster touched on "consumption"...The last poster touched on "consumption".<br />There is one word that is the cause of all this.<br />POPULATION!<br />There are toooooo many humans! Simple.<br />Trouble is, we can't bump a load off, but that would cut consumption.<br />I am off to hide now lol.Tonyhttp://www.pbase.com/flying_fox_tonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-36961404952736722582010-12-31T01:30:59.625+00:002010-12-31T01:30:59.625+00:00Amazing that so many use the land and enjoy the la...Amazing that so many use the land and enjoy the landscape and yet comparatively few have posted a view on this, so far at least. The elephant in the room is consumption. We're all of us addicted to more of everything, power, money, outdoor gear!?<br /><br />I think fighting this stuff officially is fantastic, but the community must be prepared to fight on many fronts, engaging in direct Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-35354659684886309572010-12-30T22:15:20.726+00:002010-12-30T22:15:20.726+00:00Neil, I can't see Snowsport Scotland having an...Neil, I can't see Snowsport Scotland having any interest in this - I don't think they care about wind farms. And they are in favour of ski developments, which the MCoS and Ramblers Scotland oppose.<br /><br />MCoS does much work with regard to mountain safety and climbing competitions and skills, Canoe Scotland does the same with canoeing. I can't see all this being done under one Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-66911341532212233582010-12-30T21:04:39.412+00:002010-12-30T21:04:39.412+00:00@Chris - I suggest starting with MCofS, Ramblers S...@Chris - I suggest starting with MCofS, Ramblers Scotland, CanoeScotland and Snowsport Scotland. A merged organisation could also attract BMC members based in Scotland (significant numbers).<br /><br />My suggestion would be to take a phased approach and start with shared accommodation/shared back office functions first.<br /><br />I appreciate concerns about bureaucracy but this can be managed.Neil Cuthberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14404404823730651161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-18513407554648473072010-12-30T12:06:45.693+00:002010-12-30T12:06:45.693+00:00Chris,
This is yet another announced tragedy. The...Chris,<br /><br />This is yet another announced tragedy. There's no way Alex Salmond can keep his self-imposed target of 80% renewables by 2020 other than by granting consent to more and more onshore wind plants (offshore ones are way too expensive). We've got to expect far more devastating blows to the little wild land which is left in this country.<br /><br />And then there's this walternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-62590352304672307192010-12-30T07:09:05.565+00:002010-12-30T07:09:05.565+00:00This may be a tiny ray of sunshine: I was recently...This may be a tiny ray of sunshine: I was recently listening to a podcast from "How Stuff Works" dealing with Rare Earth Metals. Wind turbines need these elements at something like half a tonne per megawatt capacity. Where do we get REMs from? China. What is China building a lot of these days (for it's own use)? Wind turbines. There appears to be some concern that China will just Kenburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09914047989184721184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-62155909646881000562010-12-30T01:17:23.520+00:002010-12-30T01:17:23.520+00:00I don't think this is a trade-off for nuclear....I don't think this is a trade-off for nuclear. We'll get nuclear as well, at least in England, and in Scotland if the SNP lose the next election. <br /><br />The problem with Holyrood's green ambitions is that they are unplanned and disorganised and based on private businesses and landowners proposing schemes. We need a proper energy plan and a proper conservation plan. We need to Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-56136620870572977822010-12-30T01:08:44.916+00:002010-12-30T01:08:44.916+00:00Is this the trade off for non-nuclear?
The Scots d...Is this the trade off for non-nuclear?<br />The Scots don't want another Douneray. We will be paying for that decommissioning for the next generation or three. A friend of mine basically has his pension plan sorted out as he will be employed in the decom work for as long as he wants to! If he lives that long, says his wife!<br />The English certainly don't want another Sellafield and lastAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-50169794836404969652010-12-29T22:49:03.075+00:002010-12-29T22:49:03.075+00:00I see no sense in generating energy (not that much...I see no sense in generating energy (not that much will be generated) so far from the areas of demand and consumption.<br /><br />If turbines are really the answer then let's see proposals for industrialisation of The Chilterns, The Cotswolds and my local (North Worcestershire) hills. And then let's wait for the indignant protests.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-58880142575367317412010-12-29T22:10:51.087+00:002010-12-29T22:10:51.087+00:00Which organisations Neil?
I can see your logic bu...Which organisations Neil?<br /><br />I can see your logic but I fear that it could create a big bureuacratic inefficient body that didn't represent anyone adequately.Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.com