The construction of a new windfarm at Cairngorms National park is the equivalent of building a Tesco in the Grand Canyon, according to a Scottish conservationist.

Chris Townsend, author, photographer and former president of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, has warned against the building of a 31-turbine wind farm next to the Cairngorms National Park.

German energy firm RWE npower has appealed a decision by the Highland Council to reject proposals to build the windfarm.

Mr Townsend, who will give evidence at the inquiry, said: "This scheme is one of eleven wind farms planned for construction near or on the edge of the national park.

-- Advertisement --

"If RWE are granted permission, the repercussions for wild land and the Scottish landscape in general will be devastating."

He added: "Once we have a wind farm on the boundary of a national park, what next? This is the equivalent of building a Tesco in the Grand Canyon – you just wouldn’t dream of it."

The Allt Duine wind farm development would be located less than 1km from the park boundary and would generate electricity for around 52,000 homes.

The Council rejected the proposal following widespread opposition.

Campaigners are concerned the turbines would be highly visible from within the park and would be detrimental to the landscape aesthetic.

It is also feared that the six new jobs thought to be created by the windfarm would be insignificant when compared to the loss suffered in the tourism sector.

The two-week long public inquiry will be held at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort hotel.

(IT)