Save Caithness campaign will help fight against major energy projects
A new campaign has been launched under the banner of Save Caithness to help communities fight large-scale energy developments in the county.
It will provide guidance on objecting to planning applications for major infrastructure projects that show “no regard” for rural residents.
The campaign has emerged from the sense of anger and dismay felt in many parts of Caithness about the extent of onshore wind farms as well as plans for huge pylons and substations.
A website, savecaithness.org, is now live.
Members of the public who sign up will receive emails alerting them to planning applications for energy projects in the county that are being consulted on and for which objections can be submitted.
Save Caithness has been instigated by Tony Shaw, who is among a group of residents in the Bowertower area opposing the proposed Swarclett Wind Farm.
He says the intention is “to take a Caithness-wide view of assisting people”.
Mr Shaw, who is retired after a career in IT, said: “We’re keen for anybody who is interested in making objections to join. We’re getting people recruited already.
“Anybody with an interest in objecting to any type of energy sector development should sign up because they’ll get guidance on how to object.”
When asked about his motivation for starting the campaign, he highlighted Highland Council’s onshore wind farm policy document. He called it “outrageous” and “really bad news for Caithness”.
Mr Shaw said: “This document is a disgrace in the way that it encourages development all over Caithness with no regard for the rural residents. It’s as though this is quite deliberate, as they will know that it is very hard for rural communities to raise and coordinate opposition.
“It is also made worse by energy companies targeting the support of more urban communities, who are barely affected, through community benefit.
“There are two main aims – firstly to help those opposed to developments make their objections in an effective and efficient manner, and secondly to provide a platform for launching realistic campaigns to protect the Caithness landscape and its residents.
“For example, seeking to protect the corridor of land between Thurso and Wick from further development would be a worthwhile campaign.”
Mr Shaw warned: “Under the Scottish Government’s draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, things will get much worse in terms of the number of energy proposals aimed at Caithness.
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“This plan emphasises a strong focus on wind power and other renewable technologies intended to expand Scotland’s renewable capabilities further. It also reaffirms the Scottish Government’s position against new nuclear power plants.”
Mr Shaw says he is keen for others to take Save Caithness forward.
“It needs a younger team to help sustain it,” he said. “It could be two people, one handling the objections assistance plus technical arrangements and the other purely focused on a chosen campaign.”
The email address is info@savecaithness.org
Brenda Herrick, who campaigned for Caithness Windfarm Information Forum, welcomed the Save Caithness initiative.
She said: “I’m delighted about the new website – it’s time we had one again to cover the whole of Caithness. I’ve bookmarked the new site so I am looking forward to it.”
Mr Shaw and others in the No to Swarclett group are opposing a move by renewable energy company Wind2 to build two turbines, each with a maximum blade-tip height of 149.9m, on land between Bower and Durran, along with a battery energy storage system.
They say the proposed Swarclett Wind Farm will be within 800 metres of some properties in the Bowertower area and will have an unacceptable impact in terms of visual impact and noise.
A planning application is expected by the end of July.